WAIST bands have taken priority over the performing kind for two Worcester men.

Singer Mike Skilbeck and Vince Ballard, who runs the Marr’s Bar Jam Night in the city, already look like different men as the exercise regime and healthy diet kicked in as they raised money for the Stratton ABC Foundation.

But after a relatively easy first month, Mr Skilbeck said they expected the remaining two months to be much tougher but will remain focused on their goal.

The pair took on the challenge after Mr Ballard’s school friend John Cope said he was hoping to build 10 new rooms at the children’s home he runs at Chompoo, Saraphi in Chiang Mai, Thailand. At the last weekly weigh-in at the Marr’s Bar, in Pierpoint Street, Mr Skilbeck, from Warndon, had gone from 18 stone six pounds to 16 stone six pounds.

Originally tipping the scales at 18 stone 11 pounds, Mr Ballard, from Blackpole, also weighed in at 16 stone six pounds.

Mr Skilbeck, aged 32, said: “It has been really hard work. We have been working out every day, twice a day or even three times a day depending on what we have got on.

“We’ve had a lot of support and I think we have already raised about £800 and there are more and more people sponsoring us and putting money in the bucket.”

The pair swim a mile every day as well as going running and taking bike rides, practising pad work and kickboxing. They also hit the gym to help shift the weight.

Family and friends have begun to notice the transformation and the pair said they hoped to continue their new healthy lifestyles after they have completed the challenge. “We are absolutely feeling the difference already. We have more energy and we have both gone down a few sizes in clothes.

“Already, every time we bump into people we haven’t seen for a while they have been saying ‘Crikey, what have you been doing.’ “I feel totally different now and have changed for good – it has been hard but it is also good fun too.” Weekly weigh-ins take place at Wednesday’s Jam Nights and they also update the Facebook page Losing ‘lbs’ to raise ‘£’s’.

A special evening for the final weigh-in will take place at venue on Saturday, November 16. For more information log on to thestrattonabcfoundation.com.