A north-east man has cycled round one of Europe’s largest lakes after turning his life around by losing weight.
Dyce man John Meres, 55, enjoys cycling but in recent years found himself withdrawing from planned events as his fitness level and body weight hindered his ability to keep up with friends.
In September last year John was challenged by a friend to join him in taking on the Vatternrundan in June this year.
The event involves cycling almost 200 miles around Lake Vattern in Sweden, Europe’s sixth largest lake, an undertaking previously unthinkable for John.
Having lost six stone, he only has a little bit more weight to lose to reach the “healthy” BMI range for the first time since he was at school.
“I’m regularly going out now and cycling 100 kilometres and thinking nothing of it,” he said.
“It’s a level of fitness I’ve never known, and a level of energy I haven’t experienced since I was a kid.
“It’s great to get up in the morning and feel that I look good in the clothes I’m wearing, and to walk into a room and not feel as if people are looking at me.”
John crossed the finish line in 14 hours – four hours ahead of his target time.
He gave himself six months to make a big push to get fit before the challenge.
He advised others not to delay losing weight to help changes their lives.
He said: “You don’t have anything to lose. Say you set yourself a goal to lose three stone and you only lose two – you’ve still lost two stone.
“Give it a go.”