Frank’s off the ropes

The realisation he would not see his grand-daughter grow up was a game-changer for Frank Vole.

A former rugby league player for the Wainuiomata Lions, his weight had ballooned to 146 kilos, on a diet of pies and pastries.

Like a lot of ex-sportsmen, the 47-year-old truck driver struggled after he stopped playing league in his mid-30s.

He believes most people do not take their health and fitness seriously enough. He changed only after being told he might not make it to 60. ‘‘My doctor said the way I was going, I would not live a long life. That was a bit scary, it gave me a wake-up call.’’

He was aware that diabetes was a real threat and he also knew that he was not as alert as he needed to be driving a truck.

The big change came after he was approached by rugby league identity Ken Laban to join a group call the Big8.

With Laban leading the way, the group of former rugby and league players, joined Les Mills and set about getting fit. In summer, they even take to the hills around Wainuiomata to pound off the kilos, and having reached 120kg, Vole is feeling much happier about life.

These days he takes salad to work and is also drinking a lot less.

Cutting back on alcohol makes a huge difference and on Saturdays he now wakes up feeling alert and looking forward to exercising. His wife, Mel, is ‘‘a lot happier’’. Vole is not surprised that Kiwis over-estimate their own fitness and health. It is easy to settle into an unhealthy lifestyle and in his case, the Samoan-born New Zealander says his background did not help.

He got used to overeating unhealthy food and settled in to a lifestyle that was hard to change.

Working with men in a similar situation motivates him and he is now looking forward to enjoying life and being able to play with his grand-daughter, Reign Tuigamala.

His ultimate goal is to get his weight under 100kg.