An overweight recycling manager has told how he dropped a staggering 13 stone amid fears he would suffer heart attack or stroke.
Barrie McRorie, 29, from Netherton, North Lanarkshire, revealed how his weight fluctuated throughout his childhood before ballooning uncontrollably to 24 stone after he lost his job.
He found comfort in binge eating and became stuck in a rut, often staying at home for days on end out of sheer embarrassment over his size.
After reaching a point where he was unable to tie his shoe laces or walk without feeling out of breath, Barrie realised it was time to take drastic action.
He has now lost 13 stone through bariatric surgery and has become a boxer as he continues to craft his body through diet and exercise.
Barrie McRorie (pictured), 29, shared his lifelong struggles with his weight which at his heaviest reached 24st
Following a major bariatric surgery he was able to drop 13 stones and pursue a career as a professional boxer
Barrie (pictured left) claims his weight gain spiraled after the loss of a job saw him spend an extensive period of time at home comfort eating
Barrie told MailOnline: ‘I was always self-conscious about my weight and I used to get the odd remark from time to time about my size. It was embarrassing and it gave me an excuse to stay at home and comfort eat but I couldn’t stop’
‘I reached a point where I couldn’t even tie my shoe laces I was that big and I was putting myself at risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.’
Since losing weight, Barrie has gone on to compete as a professional boxer. He has competed in more than 40 fights across boxing and martial arts disciplines. Barrie shared how the surgery and weightloss has changed his diet and daily routine.
He said: ‘Since then I’ve seen the weight drop off significantly and I’ve gone from being someone who over eats to someone who only has very small meals.’
‘In the morning, I do my cardio which is typically a 5 or 6-mile run. After that, it’s usually 4 boxing sessions a week at my local club and two strength and conditioning sessions at Xercise4Less.’
Boxing and martial arts have become apart of his routine for staying fit since the surgery
He shared that his fear of heart attacks and strokes pushed him to try diets, however he couldn’t find one that worked
To tighten the loose skin left behind after surgery Barrie joined his local Xercise4Less gym
‘I couldn’t wait to get in the ring for my first ever professional fight and in the next few years I’m hoping to settle in my weight category and challenge for titles.’
He revealed that the surgery has transformed his life and believes it’s never to late for others to improve their quality of life.
At his heaviest Barrie weighed 24 stone and was unable to find a diet that worked. His doctor was able to show him the pros and cons of medical intervention.
He added: ‘I talked it through with my doctor and after weighing up the pros and cons I knew it was the right decision to take – it saved my life.’
In preparation for his first boxing match he trained six times a week and twice on some days
Barrie shared that he can see how unhappy he was looking back at old photos of himself and advises others to make a change to improve their quality of life
‘Now when I look in the mirror I can’t believe the reflection staring back at me, I can now buy fashionable clothes and my confidence has sky rocketed.’
‘I can’t believe I spent so many years locked away in a bedroom eating and feeling miserable and when I look back at old photos I just see how unhappy I was.’
‘It’s never too late to start to make a change to the quality of life you live, you just have to learn to never give up!’