16 August 2023 , 12:28
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A man who went on a fast-food binge during lockdown has totally turned things around.
Joe Perks said he gave himself a stern talking to after his weight climbed to 18st while Covid gripped the world - and closed the 28-year-old's gym. He said he used that as an excuse to stop eating well, but later decided it was time for change.
Gorging on fast food and fry-ups, fitness got thrown to one side. But he has now transformed his appearance after reaching out to a bodybuilder for support. He hasn't looked back and reckons his mental health is better than ever after getting back in the zone - and back in shape.
“At first I didn’t want to share the before and after photos because I was embarrassed about the first one," Joe, from Birmingham, said. "But I thought you know what, I look good in the second one and it is so much better so I shared it.
Joe was fed up after gaining weight in lockdown (Joe Perks/Instagram)
But he decided he had to do something about it (Joe Perks/Instagram)“I feel so much more confident now and I am so much happier. Honestly, mental health wise it’s amazing, it doesn’t just improve your physique you feel a lot happier mentally,” he told the Daily Star. Joe was feeling at his lowest during the pandemic and grew more and more despondent as the virus took hold.
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Remembering those dark days, he said: “I just lost motivation. My diet was non-existent and I was eating a load of rubbish and was constantly comfort eating. It would be takeaways and cooked breakfasts every morning. It affected me mentally and I thought I had to do something because I was unhappy with how I felt.
"I used to go to the gym before lockdown and people thought I looked big and strong in clothes but I had actually become really overweight. I looked at myself in the mirror one day and thought something has to be done, I can’t keep going like this.”
Determined to improve, Joe messaged Guy Harding on Instagram - who was once known as “Britain’s fittest banker” - and he helped to rebuild his motivation. Guy previously spoke about his own transformation from a skinny teen to super strong man mountain. He now describes himself as a “worldwide physique transformation specialist”.
After altering his diet and sending him specialised training programmes, Joe now weighs 14st and has packed on muscle. He said: “I had to clear out my wardrobe because my tops are too big and my trousers are too big.
“I have lost over three and a half stone and I started noticing weight loss and the difference in how I looked after about six to eight weeks. Guy had me cut out some bad foods I was eating but it was a diet I could actually do and enjoy. It wasn’t just cutting out carbs and things.”