Steven, 50, sheds 7st after split with partner

A MAN has told how a split from his wife spurred him on to lose more than a third of his bodyweight.

Steven Russell tipped the scales at just under 20 stones and was living a life of eating fast food and drinking alcohol.

But after he and his partner broke up, he wanted to get back into shape — and lost more than seven stones by “plugging away” in the gym.

The 50-year-old, who weighed nearly 20st at his heaviest, told the Tele today: “I broke up with my wife and after that I knew that I wanted to get back i n shape — that’s what started me going to the gym and I just stuck at it.

“I was drinking pints, eating kebabs — I’d let myself go.

“I do cross training, treadmill, weights and go to the swimming — I do a bit of everything.

“I basically just cut out all the junk food, the crisps, the chocolate and started eating healthier.

“Now I have my porridge for breakfast and soup for my tea and things like that.”

Steven, who has worked at the city’s NCR factory for 27 years, has won awards for his weight loss from colleagues — such as the ‘biggest loser’ competition — and has a session at Fit4Less in Main Street every day before work.

He said: “Everyone that I work with has been brilliant, they have been really supportive.

“I am involved in football and stock car racing and they have been a big help to me too.”

Steven, who grew up in Douglas, says he believes that anyone who puts their mind to it can lose weight.

He added: “I think that anyone would be able to do what I did.

“I was a member of Olympia for 15 years but I would just go to the