THESE photos show the dramatic transformation of an overweight casual drinker to a confident, ripped man in the best condition of his life.

Dean Hawker has ditched the takeaways, called time on drinking altogether and stubbed out the cigarettes as he has found all he needs - at the gym.

Worcester News: BEFORE: Dean Hawker before his dramatic transformation which has involved cardio, weights and clean eatingBEFORE: Dean Hawker before his dramatic transformation which has involved cardio, weights and clean eating (Image: Supplied by Perdiswell Leisure Centre)

The 51-year-old of Bilford Road, Worcester initially started going to the gym three years ago. But it was when he started weight training five months ago, combined with clean eating, which really made the difference.

But the support and guidance he has received from personal trainers and managers, not to mention the classes at Perdiswell Leisure Centre, have combined to give him the best results. Consistency has also been important - he goes every day.

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The car transporter driver said: "I'm so pleased with the difference it has made to me. I'm a totally different person. I'm confident. I didn't have confidence before and I have made so many friends. It has absolutely changed my life. I have so much energy."

Flexible working has allowed him to fit the gym around his job which takes him all over the country. He could be in Plymouth one day and Edinburgh the next.

Worcester News: AFTER: Dean Hawker has changed inside and out and has found his happy place, training hard at Perdiswell Leisure Centre AFTER: Dean Hawker has changed inside and out and has found his happy place, training hard at Perdiswell Leisure Centre (Image: Supplied by Perdiswell Leisure Centre)

Regular personal training sessions have also kept up his motivation and helped him meet his goals. He had to wait until after a hand operation last October before he could begin training in earnest and, since then, he hasn't looked back.

With his defined muscles and chiselled cheekbones, Mr Hawker is scarcely recognisable from the overweight man in the earlier photo who drank (though not to excess) and ate takeaways regularly.

Since training at Perdiswell (managed by Freedom Leisure) he has shed four stone, dropping from 14 stone and 13lbs to 10 stone 13lbs.

The weight sessions - push and pull days and leg training - have also increased his overall strength and conditioning while the classes have boosted his fitness levels. 

Since he started training he has increased the amount he can bench press from 40kg to 70kg.

"I'm so pleased with the difference it has made to me. I'm a totally different person. I'm confident. I didn't have confidence before and I have made so many friends. It has absolutely changed my life. I have so much energy," he said.

He no longer drinks or smokes which he did previously, even when he was attending the gym. Now he says he can't wait to get to the gym and does not eat junk food at all.

"I used to dread the summer because you wear fewer clothes and you just know you don't look good. It does your confidence no good at all. Now I'm looking forward to the summer and I know I can go out with confidence and not worry about what people think."

He described the support he had received at the gym as 'absolutely tremendous' and said he could not give enough credit to the staff.

"They're so friendly and nothing is too much for them, especially the two managers, Jamie and Emma," he said.