A GRANDFATHER has turned his life around after he realised his weight was killing him.

Paul Joynson, 72, has lost an incredible 7st 7lbs since he joined Weight Watchers two years ago.

When he first started, he weighed 23st 9lbs.

Paul, of Halstead, said the moment he realised he needed to lose weight was after looking back on pictures from his granddaughter’s 21st birthday party.

He said: “I didn’t notice the weight creeping on slowly until I looked back at photos.

“Obviously my inspiration is fitness and health and the realization that I was killing myself with so much pressure for my heart carrying so much weight.

“The desire to see my granddaughter grow into a beautiful woman and to enjoy our retired active life to the full.

“I had a few issues walking with pain in my feet and knees, and at one point it was looking like surgery was the way forward.

“I have had a few health scares meaning I had to have a few places of skin cancer surgically removed.

“It’s too late to stop these but the fitter I am the better it will be to fight these things.

“I didn’t turn to comfort food at these horrid times as my head was in the right place to fight this and my mind set was to not give in.”

Now 18 months clear of skin cancer, Paul is enjoying a fitter way of life with his wife.

He did not have to exclude certain foods from his diet and he was able to enjoy exercising with his wife, who is also a member.

He said: “We went on a walking holiday and managed to hit about 18 miles a day.

“Noticing our weight loss had increased with the increase of exercise we now continue to walk every day.

“It’s part of our new healthier lifestyle which is not just good for my physically but mentally too.

“I am much more comfortable

with where I am now and my generally fitness and energy in unbelievable.

“In addition to the fitness I no

longer drink beers or spirits, my

tipple now is a spritzer and a cup of tea.”

Paul thanked Weight Watchers who helped him with his transformation, however, he said one negative has come out of the weightloss.

He said: “The only down side is none of my clothes fit.

“It’s cost be a fortune replacing them, but it’s been great.

“I could never go into a high street shop and buy clothes off the peg before, one because of my height, but two the size I was.”