He should join a (gastric) band! Obese music fan loses 16st playing drums on PlayStation game



Marc Rodwell was told his lifestyle of no exercise and takeaway foods would kill him within two years

He has since lost more than half his former bodyweight of 36-stone by playing the game Rock Band



A 36-stone computer games fan who was told his over-eating would kill him has lost more than half his body weight by drumming.

Doctors told Marc Rodwell, now 23, that he would not live to see his 24th birthday if he didn't lose weight.



A daily diet of four litres of Irn Bru and enough takeaway food to feed two people left Mr Rodwell so heavy that his household scales were unable to weight him.

But his life changed forever when he discovered the PlayStation 3 game Rock Band.

Rhythm king: Marc Rodwell has lost 16-stone after he discovered the PlayStation game Rock Band and started eating a healthy diet

As he was: Clocking in at 36-stone, doctors told Mr Rodwell that he would not live to see his 24th birthday if he didn't lose weight

Mr Rodwell played the interactive game's drum kit for hours every day and the energetic drumming burned so many calories that he has now lost 16 stone.



Mr Rodwell, who lives with his father Adam, 42, in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, today revealed how he has a new lease of life.

He said: 'I was 22 and the doctor told me I wouldn't live to see 24 if I didn't change.



'It was such a shock I decided to act and began to exercise. I added Rock Band to my exercise routine and the results were amazing.

'On Rock Band you really work up a sweat. I play all the instruments but I especially think the drums have helped with my weight loss.



'I feel like a completely different person, I feel great.'

Mr Rodwell first began to pile on the pounds as a child and as an adult was an addict of fizzy drinks and lived off curry and pizza.

His only form of exercise was a short walk with the dog in his tiny garden.

Mr Rodwell's weight steadily ballooned until July 2010 when his father, fearing for his son's health, bought him a set of digital scales.



But when Mr Rodwell stepped on, the screen simply read 'error' because he was too heavy.



He immediately joined the gym and began to drum everyday on Rock Band.

Shrinking waist-line: But when Mr Rodwell weighed 36-stone and he stepped on a set of scales, the screen simply read 'error' because he was too heavy

The exercise regime and a new healthy diet saw Mr Rodwell, who is 6ft tall, shed seven stone in six months and nine stone in the next year.



He now weighs 20 stone and regularly plays tennis and golf and even competed in a time challenge at his local gym, finishing just seconds after a man half his weight.



Mr Rodwell, who is unemployed, said he is determined to reach his target weight of 18 stone.



He said: ;I would eat anything and everything in my path - curry, pizza, chips, four litres of Irn Bru every day. I had no diet.



'I was really shocked when the scales could not calculate my weight, I had no idea I was so big.



'I made the decision to change my life and started going to the gym twice a week. That soon became three or four times a week and now I am a regular.



'At home I do workouts in the afternoon or evening to balance out what I've done in the morning. So I'll either do some dumbbell curls or play the drums on Rock Band on the PlayStation 3.



'It sounds silly to say I play a game as an additional workout but you would be surprised how many calories you burn in two hours of drumming.



'I cut out all of the sweets, fizzy juice, desserts and started eating a better diet.

