Fitness fanatic: Roberto Enrieu, 45, has lost a staggering 25 stone after transforming his diet and lifestyle
A man who once weighed more than a baby elephant has become fit enough to run the London Marathon after losing a staggering 25 stone.
Roberto Enrieu, who tipped the scales at almost 42 stone four years ago, lost over half his body weight after his doctor discovered a heart problem which had been masked by his obesity.
The 45-year-old, who wore 66-inch waist trousers and spent his evenings in front of the television gorging on junk food, transformed his diet and lifestyle after joining a weight-loss group in a bid to shed the pounds.
He is now a fitness fanatic, and as well as running, swimming, and kayaking, he has even completed the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge, scaling Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon in just 24 hours.
His achievements were so impressive that in 2009 he was named Slimming World's Man of the Year.
He has now been selected to run with the weight loss company's team at this year's London Marathon, where he hopes to raise money in aid of the NSPCC.
The father-of-two, from Coventry, said: 'Had I not lost weight I could have been dead within a few years.
'But instead, I've got a new lease of life. I'm fit and healthy, and have a wonderful family, a great job and lots of very active hobbies.'
But it was a long road to recovery and it took Mr Enrieu four years to lose the weight.
'I am going from someone who was out of breath walking to the fridge to a real-life marathon man, it's amazing really,' he said.
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Obese: Mr Enrieu tipped the scales at almost 42 stone four years ago
'When I was at my heaviest even walking left me in pain and out of breath. I spent 35 years being overweight.
'I tried every diet going, even the peanut butter diet, but nothing worked long term.
'It was hard to get the best out of a family holiday when just walking up steps or across a beach was agony.
Mr Enrieu, who is married to Karen, 54, and is father to Nicole, 19, and Michelle, 16, admitted that his most humiliating experience was when he went for a job interview.
'As soon as I saw that the interview chair had arms I knew what was going to happen,' he said. 'Sure enough, I sat down and heard a big crack.
'The interview panel were very professional but I knew there and then it wasn't going to happen for me.'
He has now set his sights set on completing the London Marathon and raising cash for a good cause.
He said: 'Slimming World has given me amazing support during my weight loss journey, so it's great to be able to give something back and raise money - especially as the NSPCC is such a good cause.
'It has more than 300,000 members nationwide so I feel very honoured to be one of just five runners picked to represent them,' he added.
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