LOW fat Roy Lilly has more than a lean chance of becoming 'Slimmer of the Year'.

But area weight loss champ Roy, of Thornton Road, Mosley Common, will have to 'weight' and see whether he's off to the Caribbean.

Fortunately Roy has lots of patience - as he's shown over the past three years during which time he's lost eight and half stones! Retired farmer Roy decided to change his ways (and his suits) when local youngsters began calling him 'Mr Blobby' and now he's anything but a Tele-Tubby.

Back in 1994 he had matching chest and waist measurements of 62 inches. Now he's down to a more modest 44 and 43 inches. His 20-plus inches collar size has now dropped to a more regular 17 inches.

Roy says he owns his transformation to 50 encouraging women friends at Weight Watchers in Worsley. And he's boosting his fitness at Tyldesley's Unit 7 gym and swims regularly at Tyldesley baths.

After joining Worsley Weight Watchers Roy said: "My fears were unfounded.

"I was helped and made welcome by all, especially our leader Joy Preston, who has supported and helped me through it all.

"She has been down with me when I have had a patch of no change, and been elated when I have done well - such as losing six pounds in one week.

"I lost my father and wife to cancer, so I decided to put my weight loss to some use. When I reached my 100lbs loss, I was sponsored by many friends and businesses and collected £350 for the Christie Cancer Appeal Fund, which brought my total collected over the years to £1,600."

And ironically, weight loss was paramount in saving Roy's life earlier this year.

After a successful operation earlier this year surgeons told him if he had not slimmed down the outcome could have been very different.

Roy added: "As a result of my weight loss my blood pressure is now normal and in the early stages of diabetes my doctor monitored my progress on diet alone.

"As a result I have not had to have any medication at all for it. My general health has vastly improved and I feel fitter."

If Roy progresses through the regional final he'll be whisked off to London. And taking the national title would earn him a holiday of a lifetime in Jamaica.

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