A PENSIONER has been inspired by his late wife to shed about 10 stone - in just three months.

David Holden, 78 of Prestatyn, claims he has been cleared of Type 2 diabetes after losing 9.5 stone to slim down to 14 stone 3.5 lbs.

Mr Holden was given resolve to shed the weight after being diagnosed with the condition which also caused the death of his wife Linda three years ago.

"I was always borderline diabetic, and when I was diagnosed I decided there and then I was going to get shot of it. It kicked me in the backside to shift the weight because I saw what it did to my wife.

"When I went up for my follow up appointment at my GP in Quarry House in Meliden six weeks later, I was told that the diabetes was gone and that I'd shifted it before it had got a grip of me.

"My friends and family are absolutely dumbfounded by the change, they don't recognise me anymore and sometimes I don't recognise myself when I look in the mirror."

To achieve the incredible weight loss, Mr Holden took on a food replacement programme of milkshakes called Lipotrim from Wellington Road Pharmacy in Rhyl, which reduced his calorie intake to two milkshakes a day.

As a result, the retired painter and decorator was forced to change his wardrobe three times across the three month period and has donated all of his old clothes to charity.

Mr Holden added: "I'm hoping that other people in the same situation could try it and hopefully save the NHS a lot of money.

"You can't take it lightly, you have to be sure you want to go through with it but once you get started it's not so bad - I just missed chewing my food."

"I've got so much energy now, I'm like a 16 year old all over again."

To reward himself for his efforts, Mr Holden has treated himself to his second Mazda RX8 car, and has also purchased a boat to take up fishing, and plans to join Prestatyn Sailing club to enjoy his newfound energy.