SHANE Thomas had been in love with the same girl since he was nine.

Helen Peel left him in April after six years and he was devastated.

But the 23-year-old from the New Forest didn’t get even – he got fit!

Shane admits that he had turned into a bit of a slob. While Helen wanted to go out, he would sit in front of the television.

Sometimes he’d eat two takeaways a day and 5ft 8in Shane’s weight hit 15-and-a-half stone.

Shane had always wanted to lose weight and the split from the woman he loved gave him the motivation.

Daily Echo: Shane Thomas before his fitness drive started

“I put all my anger and upset into getting fit,” said Shane who works in music marketing.

He joined a 24-hour gym so that he could fit in two hours of exercise every day.

“Sometimes I would hit the gym at midnight so that I could get my training in,” he said.

He added: “I thought that no one would ever love me again because of how I looked.”

He has shed an impressive five stone in just 20 weeks and is now in great shape. His skin is also much better and his long ponytail has had the chop.

He and Helen are still in touch and she is impressed with his new attitude.

“I’m very proud of him,” she said.

“It’s good to see him get to where he wants to be.

“His weight was never an issue to me but he is definitely happier in himself and more confident now.”

Shane has been getting a lot of attention from other women but says that, having been in love with one person since he was nine, he’s not sure how to react to it.

“It’s very confusing,” he admitted.

“I’ve known Helen since I was nine and I’ve never loved anyone else. We were together for six years.”

Helen adds: “If we did get back together it would be nothing to do with his weight but would be because he is so much happier in himself now.”

Shane says that one of the reasons why he has decided to go public about his weight loss is to encourage other people to get in shape.

“People have been approaching me to get advice on losing weight.

“I didn’t get any professional help.

I’d read loads of magazines over the years about how to get into shape and it all came back to me.

“I eat lots of lean meat, salads and spices.”