Hartlepool motorcycle racer gets life back on track after signing up to Slimming World

Phil Pugh, 55, of Hartlepool, who has won four championships, joined his local Slimming World with his wife after struggling with asthma, general health and noticed his clothes no longer fitted.

The final straw was a picture a colleague took and shared on social media which Phil said brought his weight gain home.

He went on to shed two-and-a-half stones from 14.5 stone to 12 after joining Slimming World at The Golden Lion on Wednesday nights, where he was named Man of the Year.

Phil, of Eden Park, said: “I knew that I was gaining weight and overeating junk/fast food but was just ignoring the effects it was having.”

Before joining Slimming World, Phil, who races with Scottish Melville Racing Club and the North East Motorcycle Racing Club, would gorge at weekends on pasties, sausage rolls, cakes, biscuits, snackpots, ready meals, chocolate, sweets, pizzas, chips and burgers, washed down with wine and beer.

But since joining, he has embraced its ‘food optimisation’ approach which allowed him to enjoy and discover lots of healthy alternatives without having to count the calories.

Phil now eats healthier dishes such as chicken and soups, but is still able to enjoy his favourite curries with a glass of wine or beer.

He has even spread the Slimming World ethos with pals at the racetrack, baking healthy home-made brownies and cakes, and swapping his old ready meals for Iceland’s special Slimming World alternatives.

“I feel so much better at the circuit when preparing for a race than I ever did,” said Phil.

“Certainly I feel fitter and healthier than I did prior to losing weight and my asthma has improved greatly.

“I enjoy shopping for clothes that fit me and look good and also am able to feel more comfortable in my racing leathers.

“My racing health has notably improved as not only am I lighter on the motorbike – weight counts for a lot when racing – but am able to feel much better after completing a race.”