SOMETHING “clicked” for Trent Sirl 10 months ago when he decided to regain control of his health.
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He took to the footy field and worked hard on the farm to lose almost 40kg.
It’s pretty scary looking back, I couldn't believe I was actually that big.
- Trent Sirl
The 23-year-old welder weighed 134kg when he first decided he wanted to drop some weight last October.
He has since played his first game of AFL in the Upper Murray League, with the seconds at Bullioh Football Club.
“My fitness level was pretty shocking for a young bloke,” Trent said.
“I looked at pictures and I'd be standing next to my brother and I just hadn't realised how big I really was.
“It’s pretty scary looking back, I couldn't believe I was actually that big.”
Trent began walking three times a week, before buying an exercise bike.
His energy increased and he said he now wanted to get up and move more often.
“My old man owns a farm, I've been working up there a fair bit which helps,” Trent said.
“I would have to walk up and grab some cows, but I would send my brother because he was fit.
“Now, I can go and get them – things like that.”
Being “picked on” in high school was a blow to Trent's confidence, which he said he'd regained.
He threw out all of his old clothes and fits comfortably into a footy jersey, which he wouldn't have worn if he didn't shed the kilos.
“I started playing footy for the first time,” Trent said.
“Body image was a big thing, walking around with short-shorts on and a singlet and you're looking really big – it’s not good, but now that's all positive.”
Before losing the weight, Trent had knee problems and lower back injuries, which wouldn’t properly heal.
His mate began to slim down using Jenny Craig, which he decided to try.
Trent said altering his eating habits had been the biggest change.
“When I go out for tea, instead of getting a seafood basket which is oily, you get steak and veg or something like that,” he said.
“I don’t have sugar in my coffee anymore, which was hard to get used to, but you just get used to it.
“The other day I had a coffee and someone put sugar in it and it was disgusting.
“It was my health which has kept me motivated.
“And getting compliments from people I hadn't seen for a couple months, they can’t believe what I look like.”
