The pounds are dropping off in the Express & Star's Biggest Loser contest
Four Express & Star readers battling it out to shed the most weight in one month have made a flying start - losing a total of 23 pounds in the first week.
Lorry driver Frank O'Halloran and payroll manager Laura Piekos weighed in half a stone lighter than when they started the Biggest Loser contest.
And factory worker Damon Stanton has swapped his regular takeaways for salads and as a result has cut four pounds off his frame.
There was good news too for bus driver Andrew Doyle who added five pounds to the group's total loss.
All four have been training under the guidance of former army physical training instructor, Chris Jewkes, at his gym in Tettenhall.
Front-runner Frank, aged 57, said week one had been an eye-opening experience for the four contestants.
"It has been an entire change in lifestyle. It has been a change of eating habits and then exercising everyday with it," he explained.
"The lads at the gym are superb. They help us a lot and have really opened our eyes to a healthy lifestyle."
Rival Laura, 56, said other members of the gym had been really supportive but admitted to feeling sore after being put through her paces by Chris' team.
She said: "I have been really worn out when I have been getting home after the gym sessions.
"But it has been lovely and there is a really positive atmosphere. The other members speak to us and have inspired us with their own weight loss stories."
Before the competition started, Damon admitted to having eaten up to three takeaways a week and eating five packets of crisps at a time.
After week one he said changing his eating habits had been almost as hard as the physical side of the contest.
He said: "I am new to the healthy eating bit. I pretty much used to eat everything I shouldn't. But the exercise has been really hard too.
"If I had to pick which had been most difficult I would say I have taken to the food easier than when we are in the gym and it is really hurting. But it is getting easier."
The experience so far has been a bit of a culture shock for the final contestant Andrew, 35, this year's heaviest contestant.
He said: "It has been difficult getting my head around the eating, eating more rather than less, but more of the right stuff.
"I have been having stuff like salmon and vegetables for breakfast, so it's been different."
