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A man who weighed a massive 23st and was taunted as 'Fat Boy' by school bullies has lost half of his bodyweight - just by ditching fast food.

Austin Shifflett gained the mean nickname after his love of fast food and fizzy drinks caused his weight to balloon.

The 22-year-old has revealed his amazing transformation after winning the battle of the bulge.

But it was all different when he was a schoolkid, as Austin, from Charlottesville, Virginia, US, had such a hard time that he began to skip classes and was even taken to court for truancy.

Ditching the junk helped Austin to shed 11st 8lbs in just a year and now those cruel bullies contact him for fitness advice - while it has helped with his love life too.

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Austin, who runs after-school clubs, said: "I thought it was just baby weight and it would get better but it didn't, it just got out of control.

(Image: Caters)

"School was pretty bad. I didn't want to be around people that much.

"It affected my school education so I had to be held back. I was so behind with my school work and that was when the bullying really started.

"It was verbal, people calling me fat boy every day in the gym class and then the name just stuck.

"I'm not a confrontational person so I would just laugh it off. I didn't want them to know it was getting to me."

Bored and miserable at home, Austin turned to food for comfort.

However he was gobsmacked when he saw the number on the scale had hit 324lb - 100lbs over what he was expecting to weigh.

(Image: Caters)

He added: "I hit an all-time low - I didn't believe it and thought the scale was broken.

"I got off the scale, turned it off and on again and got back on.

"I just couldn't believe it was right. I was crushed. I never saw myself being in the three hundreds."

The teen turned to his gran for help, who recommended the Atkins diet.

In his first week he lost 9lbs and was hooked. In the first three months he was just on the diet he lost about 80lbs.

(Image: Caters)

He said: "I started going to the gym late at night when no one would be there to see me.

"It took ten months to lose 156lbs."

The incredible transformation enhanced more than just his health.

He added: "It changed my life in a lot of ways. I was really shy before so it has helped with my confidence levels.

"It's really helped with dating and girls too. Before they wouldn't even talk to me.

"Now some of the people that bullied me now message me for tips, that's one of the best things."

(Image: Caters)

He added he holds no grudges towards the kids at school.

Austin is currently raising money on a GoFundMe page to have 10lb of excess skin removed.

He said: "I'm ready to throw my shirt off - I work out twice a day and I love running but I still feel trapped in my own body."

The gorgeous young man hopes to studies sports medicine so he can help others lead a healthier lifestyle.

He added: "I have a good understanding and I am passionate about it.

"I want to tell others you have to learn to accept the failures. I failed many times, but you can't give up.

"You didn't gain the weight overnight and you won't lose it overnight either."

Related video - This man lost 13 STONE to pursue his dream of being a musician