Trooper Kirk wins battle of the bulge

But three years later things looked a lot better after he had shed over six stone in his own Battle of the Bulge.

Now the father of two from Quarry Bank is fighting fit and serving as a Trooper specialising in reconnaissance with Dudley-based B Squadron of the Royal Yeomanry - previously A Squadron of the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry.

And he has not just changed his life style he has also altered his job and is now driving buses between Birmingham, Dudley and Merry Hill for National Express.

Trooper Austin said: "It was always a bit of a dream to be in the services as my dad was in the Army. That ambition drove me on and made me focus on losing the weight.

"I changed my diet, joined a gym and started running. It took a lot of will power but having that goal really helped me to stick with it.

"The weight just piled on while I was a lorry driver because I was sitting in my cab all day and living on a greasy spoon diet. Now I am really feeling the benefit and able to do the things like doing physical activities with the kids that I always wanted to but was hampered by my size."

It was a big weight off the mind of the 6ft 1in tall former Heathfields High School pupil when he joined the Army Reserve - formerly the Territorial Army - last year and recently showed how life had changed for him by climbing Ben Nevis in atrocious weather condition wearing 25kg of Army kit .

The challenge raised money for the Love 2 Live charity that will be used to refurbish the garden for disabled residents at Acorn Lodge in Oldbury.

Trooper hopes to put his training into practice on operations with the Army Reserve and is looking forward to trying his hand at parachuting on an adventure training course.

He said: "I have gained a lot by joining the Reserve and my new found fitness is the thing I value most.

"I would like to become a physical training instructor because it has made such a huge difference to my life."

New entrants to the Army Reserve are now eligible for extra payments of up to £2,300 plus an annual tax-free bounty for completing minimum training.

Anyone interested in finding out more about can visit a careers fair that will be held between 10am and 4pm tomorrow at 225 Field Squadron (M) Army Reserve Centre, Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury, B68 8DH.

They can also visit their local Armed Forces Careers Office. For more information call Corporal Adam Sefton on 0121 633 6411.