'I lost 15 stone in Couch to 5K Challenge'

A man who lost 15 stone (95kg) after taking on the Couch to 5K Challenge has said running has "transformed" his life.

Two years ago, Colin McCormick, from West Derby, Liverpool, was housebound and struggled with health conditions and depression.

Years of consuming nearly 8,000 calories a day through takeaways and junk food had brought his weight up to 28 stone (117kg).

But after being told he might only have a few years left to live, the 42-year-old turned his life around, joining a local running club and drastically changing his diet.

Mr McCormick, who works as a local taxi driver, developed high cholesterol and blood pressure as well as suffering from sleep apnoea and Bell's palsy.

At his heaviest weight, he told BBC Radio Merseyside he struggled with his mental health.

"I was stuck in bed for long periods of time. It was a bad time for me," he said.

"I was quite a loner. Because I was quite big I couldn't go out."

Losing the weight has meant his friendships and relationship with his 15-year-old daughter has improved.

He now runs three to four times a week, and enjoys parks runs and half marathons.

"I've come a long way and pretty much met a new friendship group. Now me and my run club do everything together," he said.

Mr McCormick started walking a few thousand steps a day before joining Liverpool Running Bugs but he said it was not an easy journey and he almost backed out.

"I remember sitting outside, I was 22 stone, and I thought, I can’t walk in here," he said.

“I could barely run. But I built up the courage, I walked in, and luckily I met a lot of people and some of them have become really close friends.”

Mr McCormick, now 13 stone (82kg), wants to inspire others and shares motivational messages to his 86,000 followers on Instagram.

"I’ve had over 15 million views, so if I can just help 0.01% of them, I just want to give, because I had to get a little bit of help from people to succeed," he said.

"You don’t need to be running straight away, you don't even need to be walking. If you just get up, have a little dance... any movement is better than no movement."

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