A pub landlord from Dartford is celebrating losing a whopping 14 stone in just eight months as he encourages men to fight the stigma and join slimming clubs.

Adam Joy, 40, has run the Bird in Hand pub in Dartford for four-and-a-half years and has always worked in the pub trade.

He enjoys spending time with customers and often has a drink with them after work.

However, Adam estimates his post-work tipple led to him consuming around 50 pints a week.

Back in November 2017, and at 26 stone and four pounds, Adam had a shock to the system.

“I watched England play rugby at Twickenham, and as I tried to walk up the stairs, I couldn’t get up them,” he told News Shopper.

After realising his weight was becoming a problem, Adam joined Slimming World the following Monday morning.

So began eight months of hard work which saw Adam cut out junk food and opt for healthier meals that were lower in fat.

As a result of his lifestyle change, Adam’s recent weigh-in has seen him reach 12 stone. He recently won Slimming World’s Man of the Year award.

“The message I want to get across to people is that dieting did not change my weight,” Adam said.

He added a lifestyle change is the key to shedding the pounds, as he has avoided fad diets which he does not think work in the long-term.

He believes swapping to healthy food is more effective than stepping up your exercise regime, as he suffered from arthritis in his knees which made exercise harder for him.

Despite this change of lifestyle, Adam is still able to enjoy a drink with his friends in the pub – he has simply swapped out pints for gin and slimline tonic.

Although he is happier with his new weight and healthy way of life, there are a few things Adam will miss.

“I do miss cheese. And going to the bakery and buying a sausage roll in the mornings,” he said.

Adam’s progress has been so effective that he has decided to become a Slimming World consultant in Bexley, starting this month.

He wants to encourage more men to follow the path he did and join slimming clubs, which he thinks helped to keep him on track.

Adam is now at his ideal weight, but he is not stopping there – his next mission is to have a six-pack within six months.