A bodybuilder who force-fed himself 10,000 calories a day in a bid to 'get strong' has revealed his incredible transformation after losing 9st.

Brandon Pickup, 22, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, used to make himself eat steaks, burgers and fried breakfasts as he obsessed over becoming a bodybuilder with his weight peaking at 23st 7lbs.

But when his father, Jason, 48, was left fighting for his life after having a stroke and sepsis, Brandon feared he would suffer the same fate and was motivated to change his ways.

Now 18 months on, Brandon has lost 9st 1lb and is a buff 14st 6lbs, with aspirations to compete at World's Strongest Man.

Brandon Pickup, 22, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, tipped the scales at 23st 7lbs and was consuming up to 10,000 calories a day as he forcefed himself in an effort to 'get strong' (left). His father's stroke prompted him to get strong, and he went on to lose almost 10 st (right, 14st 6lbs)

Brandon used to weigh 14st a was a 'fit and active' teenager and professional rugby player with Castleford Tigers when he was 17.

But he fell out of love with the game and turned his attention to weightlifting, and started piling on the pounds in 2016.

He read about World's Strongest Man Eddie Hall, and how the 31st champion ate 12,500 calories a day.

Personal trainer Brandon said: 'When I set out, all I knew was I wanted to be as strong as I possibly could, and I didn't care about the effects that had on my body.

Brandon dreamed of being the world's strongest man, and became 'obsessed' with eating as much as he physically could in order to put on weight (pictured before his weight loss)

'I had a passion to get strong and was inspired by Eddie Hall and the bodybuilders I followed online.

'I took on board what they did and caved in to the pressures to eat loads of food.'

He went on: 'I had an obsession to get strong and wanted to go all out.

'My mentality was to eat as much as I physically could, regardless of how fat it made me.

Brandon felt 'awful' when he was at his heaviest, and says he struggled to walk up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath (pictured, before his weight loss)

'I was willing to do anything to be the strongest and I started eating at least 8,000 calories a day.

'It made me feel awful but I was getting really strong.'

While doing a six-day-a-week weightlifting routine, Brandon went from eating a regular diet to gorging between 8,000 and 10,000 calories a day.

In an average day he would eat eight rashers of bacon, four slices of toast, four eggs and an ice cream protein powder smoothie for breakfast.

He would then snack on beef jerky, cakes and muffins before a lunch of FOUR burgers and a pint of milk.

A typical tea time would see Brandon eat out at steakhouses or burger bars, or scoff a large portion of takeaway fish and chips.

He said: 'I used to eat so much that it made me feel sick and I was sleepy all of the time.

'But in terms of strength, I saw massive improvements.

DIET BEFORE: Between 8,000-10,000 calories per day Breakfast - eight slices of bacon, four slices of toast, four eggs and an ice cream, protein powder and peanut butter smoothie. Lunch - Four beef burgers with bread and cheese and a full pint of full fat milk. Dinner - Typically restaurant meals like large fish and chips, steak and chips with a cheesecake for dessert. Snacks - Cakes, chocolate and muffins. Advertisement

DIET AFTER: 4,000 calories a day

Breakfast - Protein powder shake consisting of egg whites, oats, peanut butter and blueberries. Mid-morning - Chicken, potatoes and vegetables. Lunch - Lean beef, white rice and peppers. Dinner - white fish, rice and broccoli. Snacks - almond nuts, dark chocolates, berries and fruit. Advertisement





'I went from lifting 220kg to 340kg in 18 months. This did make me feel happy but not for very long.'

While it means he could lift an impressive 53st it also saw him pile on pounds of fat and his waistline ballooned until he said he could barely look at himself in the mirror.

He said: 'I was pleased that I was able to lift a lot but it didn't really fulfil me..'

A near-death experience for his father, Jason, made Brandon to realise his diet was putting his health at risk.

Brandon would eat so much that he felt sick but says he saw huge improvements with how much he was able to lift in the gym (pictured, before his weight loss)

He was motivated to lose weight after his father suffered a stroke and went into sepsis, and went on to lose almost 10st (pictured, now)

He weighed 23st 7lbs, had piled on nine stone in just over a year, and would get out of breath just walking up the stairs.

'I realised I needed to start living a healthier life and that I was putting pressure on my heart', he said.

'I wondered if I'd end up in that position.'

Brandon began to gradually slim down his meals and his waistline, adding cardio to his workout routine, and eating 4,000 calories a day.

The bodybuilder realised he wanted to start living a healthier life and had been putting pressure on his heart with his calorie-intensive diet

The bodybuilder gradually slimmed down his meals and added cardio into his workout routine in order to lose the weight (pictured, at the gym)

Brandon now eats 'little and often' - six 400 calorie meals a day, such as eggs and oats for breakfast, beef and rice with vegetables and chicken, potatoes and greens.

By this summer, Brandon had lost all the weight he put on and now weighs 14st 6lbs - and sports an impressive physique.

Brandon said: 'I now wake up and look at myself in the mirror with a smile on my face.

'I can now see the results of everything I have worked towards since I was young.

Brandon now eats 'little and often', and says he is now able to look himself in the mirror with a smile on his face (pictured, at the gym after his weight loss)

The bodybuilder says after his weightloss he has been left with a 'much more positive outlook' on life

'This is what I have always wanted and I am so proud of myself.'

He continued: 'I hate how I used to look but no one used to say anything, although I could see the look on people's faces.

'I have a much more positive outlook on life now.'