"I kept using the gym in the mornings and also the pool during the night and even though exercise would be a lot more difficult than in my rugby days, I stayed using the programme. The first week was the toughest however now I know it's all regulated mindset and could be done," he was quoted saying.

"What is extraordinary is the fact that dr ming herbal tea people don't recognise me on the street - even my sister didn't recognise me after i dropped the final stone. My family are delighted - I've even today shaved the beard that was simply there to cover my double chin!"

Following his dramatic transformation, that they said has even stunned his doctor, Noel said he is a "new person altogether."

"My diet has changed massively, particularly the quanity. I now only eat red meat twice a week, and only eat vegetables that grow over the ground, rather than under the ground, such as potatoes, which tend to have more calories," he explained.

Pasta and bread, he added, are also no-no's.

Alcohol, which he said played a component in the weight gain, has additionally been reduced.

"When people say to me 'Motivation is extremely expensive for join', I say 'What value would you placed on life? They were 100% behind me from the very start, and I had tried anything else by myself also it didn't work. I cannot say enough about the subject or thank them enough.

"My 80 year-old mother can't get over the load loss," he added with a laugh. "It has provided us a totally new lease of life and that i have a really positive outlook now.

"It was very degrading before to visit a match, and struggle to even walk across an area. But may you need to get to your lowest to be aware what direction to consider."

After regaining the arrogance to return to the leisure slimming coffee water, he regularly takes the plunge in Askeaton pool, swimming as much as 15 lengths a day, that they combines with other exercise to help keep the pounds off.

Now, his goals are to compete within the Kilkee bay swim and Thomond Swim.

"It's all mind over matter. There is no limit how to what I is capable of."