A HAMPSHIRE man who lost 8 stone has won an award at a national fitness competition after being entered by his gym.

Paul Garland of Chandler’s Ford, who lost 8 stone in weight following hypnotherapy, was entered into The National Fitness Awards where he won The Member Achievement award on November 30.

It took Mr Garland 2 years to get to the weight he is now with support from his wife Sarah, his hypnotherapist and his local gym.

The 65-year-old visited Mary Burgess Hypnotherapy in 2016 for issues causing to him being over weight.

This weight had caused him to have dangerously high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes where he needed to take 6 tablets a day.

Now, Paul has lost 8 stone in weight and only needs to take one tablet a day.

Paul said: "Losing weight has changed my life and probably saved it.

"I am very proud of my journey from January 2016, with Mary’s help and being able to use 3D Gym, I’ve transformed my life."

Paul enrolled on a weight management programme using hypnosis and nutritional advice which involved listening to an MP3 recordings and having one-to-one sessions with Mary.

After his sessions with Mary ended, Paul joined 3D Gym, based in Chandler's Ford, who entered him into the National Fitness Competition.

Paul, a part-time cruise passenger service operative, was entered into the competition by 3D Gym.

He was where he was up against 6 other contestants.

He took him the trophy for Member Achievement after the awards ceremony.

The 65-year-old's hypnotherapist said: “I’m extremely proud of Paul, he followed all the advice given, listened to his recordings, attended all of his sessions with me and joined a gym as advised by myself.

"We’ve kept in touch and it’s nice to see he’s continued to heed the advice given initially by myself.

"I’m very proud that Paul has won this award.”

Paul has also appeared on the Julian Clegg radio show on BBC Radio Solent several times to talk about his weight loss journey.