Ian loses weight... but gains pounds! (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Ian loses weight... but gains pounds!

8:50pm Wednesday 23rd December 2009

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A father of two who placed a £50 bet that he would lose five stone before Christmas Day at odds of 20-1 was celebrating netting £1,000 for his local junior football club in Bradford.

Bookie William Hill has conceded that Ian Armstrong, 44, has hit the target he set in January by getting from 17st 5lbs to 12st 5lbs by his festive deadline.

The bookmaker said it is its record weight loss for a bet of this type. A spokesman said it takes hundreds of bets on predicted weight loss every year but it hardly ever has to pay out.

Now Mr Armstrong is ploughing his winnings into the boys’ football team he chairs in Bradford – the East Bowling All-Stars.

Mr Armstrong, who works for Bradford supermarket Morrisons, said he piled on the pounds after he got a knee injury while out running.

But he decided to diet his way back to fitness as a way of raising cash for the All-Stars, encouraged by his wife, Tracy.

He said his sons, Nathan, ten, and Niall, seven, had also been very supportive. They both play for the All-Stars teams.

“It’s incredible when you look at the pictures of me before and what I’m like now,” Mr Armstrong said. “It’s a huge amount to lose but I feel so much better.”

He managed his weight loss by changing his diet. And his top tip is to drink a pint of water before meals to cut down your appetite.

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