When people tell Freedom Burrows that he’s half the man he used to be — they’re not kidding.

The 44-year-old had to get serious about his health 18 months ago and managed to drop 137lbs, thanks to a special protein-based diet and regular exercise.

At his worst point, the father of two topped the scales at 396lbs.

But he realised how much the weight was slowing him down while on a trip to the UK to visit his children, Joshua and Camilla Burrows.

Mr Burrows said: “For my daughter’s Sweet Sixteen, I took them to a theme park, but I felt so guilty because I had to cut the outing short because I was too tired and worn out.

“When we got back to the hotel my son said to me ‘I want you to take better care of yourself so you can live to one day see your grandkids’.

“I cried because those words hit me in my heart. I knew I had to do this for myself and my children and I couldn’t stay obese like I was, so I made a conscious decision to change my life.”

Mr Burrows had heard about a diet called The Wellness Programme from a co-worker and decided to give it a try.

The weight-loss method encourages people to eat a high amount of protein and green vegetables, rather than foods with carbohydrates and sugar. Within the first seven days of the scheme he lost 23.4lbs.

Six to eight weeks later, as his body became adjusted to the new way of eating, he started incorporating low cardio and light weightlifting into his regime. He currently works out several times a week with personal trainer Sergio White, from Positive Results, which helped to boost his fitness levels significantly.

“Sergio started me out slowly,” Mr Burgess explained. “Now I work out every morning four or five times a week for 45 minutes to an hour each time.

“I also do spinning classes twice a week, ju-jitsu once a week and teach [martial arts] at the Youth Centre on Angle Street.”

Years ago, Mr Burrows considered himself to be an athletic person. “I played rugby and did martial arts for 25 years and was a third degree black belt,” he said.

But after a series of knocks to the head he became fearful of taking part in high impact sports. Instead he would “just stay on [his] couch”.

“My doctor at that time said people should only suffer three concussions in a lifetime, but I had suffered around ten. I feared if I got hit in the head again it could be a fatal blow.”

For the next five or six years he watched as the weight piled on, but then came the day when he didn’t want to live that way anymore.

He said one of the best moments of his weight loss journey came when he visited his children in the UK and got to see how proud they were of him.

“Another high point came when I was on the plane going over to see them,” he said.

“I used to have to ask for an extension belt because my stomach was so big, but I didn’t need that last time I flew over there. The regular seat belt fit me and I also had three extra inches on it, so it’s always the little things that make you feel good.”

The flood of compliments coming in from friends and family have also boosted his confidence.

“A lot of people tell me how good I look now,” he said. “They say I look like I did in my 20s and being 44 years old that feels really good to hear.

“I feel great about coming this far, but it’s not finished. It’s a lifestyle decision I have made. I want to do the half marathon next May 24, along with Sergio. And I just want to keep getting fitter, that’s my goal now to be as fit as possible.”

Although the fitness part came quite natural to Mr Burrows, he said the biggest challenge was changing the way he ate.

He said restricting himself from the ‘fun foods’ like pizza, hamburgers and sweets was extremely tough at first.

But over time he no longer craved those junk foods. He said: “I hadn’t had pizza for a year and I tried to eat a slice of pizza, but it didn’t even taste good to me anymore.

“That used to be my favourite food. Now I am happy with chicken or fish and some vegetables for lunch.”

He admitted he felt proud of himself and wanted to share his story to encourage other people.

“I hope people will read this and stop letting obesity take over their life because it can do,” Mr Burrows said. “When I was at my heaviest point I wasn’t happy. Even people at work noticed how much happier I am now than I was years ago.

“I was always a hard worker, but inside I felt heavy, sluggish and slow.”

Although he would promote The Wellness Programme he was on, available through PFR Medical Centre, Mr Burrows said it might not be the best diet for everyone.

“Some people say that after they’ve been on it for a year they tend to gain the weight back, but for me it’s a lifestyle change,” he said.

“I had a goal and drive, which was my children encouraging me to be healthier.

“If you have a specific drive, I would encourage people to focus on that and don’t deter from it and keep moving towards the goal you set for yourself.”

For more information on The Wellness Programme, call 236-0410; or to contact personal trainer Mr White e-mail sergio@positiveresults.bm.