Slimmer Brian now a personal trainer at 64

Brian Jones has been sporty all his life, but started to gain weight in his 50s eventually hitting more than 22 stone.

But the father-of-two, an independent financial advisor, decided to take action by taking up cycling at the age of 57.

Seven years on, he has cycled more than 88,000 miles and is a member of Halesowen Cycling Club competing in time trials.

Championships

He also rides in the UCI World Masters Championships in Manchester and the LVRC Veterans' Track Championships in Newport.

Thanks to the exercise and a healthy diet, Brian lost more than nine stone and is now 12 and three-quarter stone.

Brian now plans to share his success with others after qualifying to become a personal trainer. He is a based at Fitness First, Olton, Solihull, and is planning to launch and lead a cycling section.

"I must be one of the oldest people to qualify for such a post such as this and I am delighted to have secured a position so soon after completing my training," said Brian, of Harborne Road, Oldbury.

"I have always been an active sportsman. I played cricket to a high level in the Birmingham League and as a teenager was on the books for both Walsall and Shrewsbury football clubs.

"However, when I got into my 50s I started to balloon and that was when I decided to start cycling. It is a fantastic feeling to have shed so much weight and to continue to be so active."

Brian works to a strict calorie count of 2,000 calories a day – although his training regime does allow him to go over that.

"I cycle 50 miles every day. So if I eat 2,000 calories it is very likely that I will burn all of that off and more when I am on the bike. If I know I am going on a long ride I sometimes allow myself 3,000 calories because I know I can burn off as much as 3,500 calories."

Brian, who worked for Barclays Bank for 25 years and was an independent financial advisor for 20 years, said he did not want to simply retire. So he decided to pursue his passion for fitness and become a personal trainer.

Brian qualified last week and has already secured the position with Fitness First.

"It is a shame that I didn't get into cycling sooner. If I had taken it up when I was a teenager I don't know what I would have achieved," he said.