Shayne Ward reveals 24lb weight loss in topless snaps after ‘sluggish’ body made him self-conscious
SHAYNE Ward unveiled his 24lb weight loss in topless snaps after admitting his "sluggish" body made him self-conscious.
New photos have revealed the 35-year-old actor, who played Corrie knicker-factory boss Aidan Connor, has ditched his "dad bod" in favour of a sizzling six-pack.
Shayne enlisted the help of Ultimate Performance personal training and cut his body fat down from 29 per cent to 16 per cent.
The heartthrob, who previously piled on THREE stone while starring on Coronation Street, said about his new fitness regime: "I'm happy to not be in that place I was 21 weeks ago. I was sluggish, I was stressed and I didn't really want to do anything.
"When I started training, I wasn't in the greatest place – I was trying to balance everything on my shoulders in my personal and professional life. I didn't enjoy "me".
"It's been 21 weeks and I'm so far removed from that now. I'm so grateful for what U.P Fitness has offered me. It gives you a better focus – you can enjoy fitness.
"It doesn't just mean getting bulging biceps or a bigger chest, it means you can be a lot healthier in body and mind. My confidence is through the roof. People say 'you look happier', 'your confidence is so much better'. I feel good, I feel fresh, I'm not quite 21 anymore, but I'm feeling really good."
The X Factor winner said goodbye to Weatherfield last year but admitted he blamed the soap for his expanding waistline.
He told us: “I will miss it when I leave but it’s not done favours for the dad bod. The canteen has a really great menu but then it also has really naughty food.
“Put it this way — it’s your choice, but then if you eat from the naughty menu you’ve got to make sure you don’t put weight on, which is what happened to me really.
“Fish and chips Friday is on every single week and they have lots of sweet food like hot chocolate fudge brownie or rhubarb and apple crumble.”
Shayne shot to fame after winning The X Factor in 2005. His debut track That’s My Goal was the Christmas No1 that year and remains the fastest- selling X Factor winner’s single.
Despite winning millions of fans in his heyday, in recent years his canteen-fuelled fuller figure has been cruelly targeted by online trolls.
With refreshing honesty, Shayne now admits the jibes over his weight affected him more than he let on.
He said: “For guys, if your mate tells you you’ve put on a bit of weight you laugh about it and make it banter.
“But when they’ve left the room you’re left with those comments that can cut like a knife.
"I’m glad the picture of me topless is out there now because not everyone is going to be in the most incredible nick.
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“What I loved about it was the response on Twitter from guys uploading their body shapes and saying it has inspired them to be confident too.”
Shayne's partner and former Hollyoaks actress Sophie Austin, has also showcased her incredible weight loss in photos on Instagram.
The couple share two-year-old daughter Willow May Ward.