Dad loses 10 stone after being told he was too big to go on Harry Potter ride

A dad has shared how embarrassment kickstarted an incredible 10st (64kg) weight loss after being told he was too big to go on a ride at Harry Potter World.

At his heaviest Martin Sharp, 47, from York, weighed around 24st, but is now almost half the man he used to be after what he describes as a "wake up call" while on holiday with his family in Florida.

"It was a real turning point for me," he explains of the incident. "I was in the queue with my friend and kids when I was told the seats weren't big enough for me.

"I knew I had to make a drastic change."

Sharp, who runs a consultancy firm, had been at Universal Studios in Orlando, home to Harry Potter World, when he was told he was too big to ride the Incredible Hulk rollercoaster.

The dad experienced further upset when he visited SeaWorld and Busch Gardens with his family, only to be once again turned down for rides.

"It was soul destroying for a moment, but at the same time, I had to put on a face for the kids," he says of his experience.

Sharp believes the pressures of running his own business contributed to his weight creeping up, explaining that prior to setting up his company in 2009 he'd been quite fit and even competed in triathlons.

"I let myself become bottomless," he explains.

"If you're doing a lot of travelling, there's airport food or train food, or if you're in meetings, there'll be a lunch of sandwiches and crisps.

"Then you might be taking clients out in the evenings for a meal and a drink.

"I was feeling quite disheartened after years of trying and failing to lose the weight and I was all too aware that diabetes and heart disease ran in my family. I felt like it was only a matter of time until I got sick too."

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After returning from the holiday, Sharp says he tried various diets and exercise routines, before realising that a rigid approach wasn't helping him with sustainable weight loss.

Five years later, the dad had a chance meeting at a business event with a coach who he credits with "transforming" his life.

"He agreed to take me on board as a client, and he gave me a lot more freedom with how I approached my weight loss," Sharp explains.

"I then used the risk management techniques that helped me succeed in business to keep myself motivated.

"I prepared, had a plan, and made sure that I had clear goals and outcomes, and split them down into milestones."

Sharp says his coach also taught him about the mechanics of weight loss and the body.

"If you're constantly doing the same thing, you won't progress," he explains. "Your body adapts to become the most efficient thing it possibly can.

"As soon as your progress drops or plateaus, make a change. Decrease or increase your calorific intake and/or exercise. My diet completely changed, but I keep it varied.

"I also change what resistance training I perform every four to eight weeks. I vary my cardio every four to eight weeks and take a complete break every 13th week.

"I am currently doing 45 minutes of cardio a day, as well as running and an exercise class for 30 minutes a day.

"I also perform resistance training five times a week, targeting separate muscle groups (chest, back, shoulders, legs, arms)."

Sharp says he has gone from feeling "sluggish" to fitting more into his days than he previously did.

"I couldn't even tie my shoelaces before," he says. "I just thought it was a part of the ageing process.

"Now I'm sharper and quicker and I've got more energy."

While he is now a healthy 14.8st (94kg), he has set himself the goal of weighing 12.5st (79kg), but says he wants to continue to lose weight in a way that is sustainable for him.

Diet before:

Breakfast - Cereal or toast with jam followed by coffee and a cake

Lunch - Sandwiches, crisps, a pastry, and a chocolate bar

Dinner - Two courses such as meat, potatoes, and vegetables, or lasagne and salad, followed by something with ice cream or custard.

Snacks - Muffin during the day and tea and toast for supper

Diet after:

Breakfast - Porridge and protein powder

Lunch - Chicken with salad

Dinner - Protein and omega three oils

Snacks - Nuts and whey protein

Additional reporting Caters.