A man from Southend has transformed his life after he lost an astonishing seven stone in less than a year and a half.

Frankie Young, 31, of North Avenue, was in daily pain before he took on the huge task of losing the excess weight after his mum told him to join his neighbourhood branch of Slimming World where he has now become a consultant.

Before he joined the group in 2016, Frankie, who is 5ft 7ins tall, weighed 20 stone 1lb.

After his dramatic weight loss, he now weighs 12 stone 6lbs, and there is still work to be done.

Frankie said: “I am hoping that I can get down to ten stone before Christmas.

“When I first started I did not know how much I actually wanted to lose. I set an interim target of four stone and when I got to that after a few months, I realised I really wanted to do more. I got into the mindset and I lived it every day.”

Diabetes runs in Frankie’s family and he said that although he was not yet diagnosed with the condition, he felt that it was only a matter of time before he was. He struggled to exercise with his job working for Mecca Bingo in Greyhound Way, just around the corner from his home.

A Southend fan and season ticket holder, Frankie felt his confidence diminish every time he looked at the turnstiles at Roots Hall. He was afraid he might not be able to fit comfortably through the barriers and then fitting into the seats at the stadium was the next obstacle he had to overcome.

Frankie said: “I have been overweight my entire adult life, when I got to my 30th birthday, I felt more like a 50-year-old. My breathing was bad and my legs were constantly hurting me, I was struggling to get through 12-hour shifts at Mecca Bingo where I work, and then I could barely walk, let alone get up out of bed the next day. I knew I had to do something or my health was only going to get worse.”

Frankie changed his diet completely after he joined the Slimming World group and now his social life has flourished. He started eating three healthy, low fat meals every day rather than skipping breakfast and eating takeaways. Frankie made progress incredibly quickly, losing six and a half lbs in his first week.

He said: “I felt this was just too good to be true as the weight was coming off and the little things to some were making a huge difference in my life.

“I can now buy clothes off the peg, instead of having to pay for un-stylish overpriced clothes from specialist shops. Things like being able to sit closer to the table, now I don’t slop my food down myself. I am now completely pain free and can enjoy long walks along the seafront or a big bike ride with some friends from the group, always happy in the knowledge that I have truly changed my life for the better.”