A MAN who used to eat daily takeaways on top of multiple chocolate bars, biscuits and sandwiches has changed his life after embarking on a Barry Communities First health course.

Barry man Mark Rees has achieved a staggering five and half stone weight loss in seven months thanks to the Barry Communities First run Foodwise Weight Loss course.

In addition to his weight loss, Mark has been inspired by his regular gym session to embark on a college course that will enable him to achieve his dream of becoming a personal trainer.

Mark, 44, decided to sign up for the Foodwise course after he started to feel that his weight was having a significant negative impact on his life including having low confidence issues, feeling breathless at the slightest of tasks and suffering from high blood pressure.

Mark's diet before the course included up to 16 biscuits a day in addition to three or four sandwiches, fizzy drinks, chocolate bars and takeaways. Now, he no longer skips breakfast and regularly eats porridge, omelettes, soup and other healthy alternatives.

"My life has completely changed since completing this course and losing weight," Mark said.

"I'm more energetic, I go to the gym four times a week and I now feel I've got the confidence to do a health, fitness and wellbeing course with Cardiff and Vale College with the long term ambition of becoming a personal trainer.

"Hazel James of Barry Communities First who runs the course has been brilliant, she has put in place all the tools for me to success and I can't thank her enough."

There will be another round of Foodwise courses, which run for eight weeks every Monday, starting Monday, June 29 from 10am to 12pm at the Barry YMCA Hub on Court Road. There is a creche available for the children of those attending.

The second course will run every Tuesday starting Tuesday, June 30 at Barry Leisure Centre, this session also includes a non-compulsory aerobics/urban rebounding session.

For more information on this course or to book a place call 01446 709432 or visit www.barrycommunitiesfirst.org

Barry Communities First is a Welsh Government funded anti-poverty programme aimed at improving the health, prosperity and learning of residents in parts of Buttrills, Cadoc, Castleland, Court and Gibbonsdown.