text: A young man whose former 26-stone bulk drove him to a suicide attempt has lost more than half his bodyweight and become a ripped gym instructor. Nathan Priestley, 21, from Norwich, Norfolk, was once dubbed ‘Jabba the Hutt’ by bullies and became so depressed over his size that he refused to leave his house for a year. He was just 18 when he took an overdose of 30 pills, but survived, ironically, because he hadn’t taken enough to defeat his massive frame. Scroll down for video . From bulk to hulk: Nathan Priestley, 21, from Norwich, Norfolk, pictured before (left) and after (right) his staggering weight loss, was once dubbed ‘Jabba the Hutt’ by bullies . Following his suicide attempt in September 2011, something snapped in Nathan and he made the decision to stop wallowing in self-pity and turn his life around. Within two years, he had shrunk to 14 stone. During the first year, he would only exercise in the dark from fear others would mock his efforts as he struggled to start shedding the pounds. Nathan ran the streets in the dead of night when no-one was around and turned off the lights so he could use a treadmill at his local gym unseen. After a year, Nathan started using weights to tone his slimmed-down figure, and was so successful he landed himself a job as a personal trainer. Nathan, now a trim 13 stone, said: 'I was always overweight as a kid and as I grew up the bullying contributed to that because I tended to comfort eat. 'Others would throw sweets at me when I was on the bus and call me "fatty", "fat mess" and "Jabba the Hutt". Transformation: Nathan's former 26-stone bulk (left) drove him to a suicide attempt when he was only 18, but he has since lost more than half his bodyweight and is now a ripped gym instructor (right) Following his suicide attempt, something snapped in Nathan, pictured before his weight loss, and he made the decision to stop wallowing in self-pity and turn his life around . During the first year, he would only exercise in the dark from fear others would mock his efforts as he struggled to start shedding the pounds . 'It was at that period in high school where I started to become really self-conscious about my weight. 'I didn’t leave the house for a year and the only time I would leave my room would be to go downstairs to get food.' Nathan added: 'My parents were really worried about me and tried to tell me to go and see somebody for help. 'After the failed suicide I realised that I needed to turn my life around and I started to diet. 'It was scary going outside and I was too afraid to leave the house because I thought people would be judging me. Before his lifestyle overhaul, Nathan was a sugar addict who gorged on bacon and egg butties, chocolate bars and greasy takeaways. He then went cold turkey and cut out junk food, chocolate, crisps and alcohol, and said he was left suffering from flu-like symptoms as a result. Nathan snacked on cashew nuts and went on a strict low-carb diet which helped him lose a stone a month for eight months. In progress: Nathan said, 'I never went to the gym at the beginning because I had no confidence, so for the first month it was purely diet' He added, 'When I did eventually start going to the gym, I used to run in a darkened room which was there for people with low self-esteem' 'I never went to the gym at the beginning because I had no confidence so for the first month it was purely diet. 'Then I would get up at three or four in the morning to go for a jog because I didn’t want anybody to see me. 'When I did eventually start going to the gym, I used to run in a darkened room which was there for people with low self-esteem.' By September 2013 - exactly two years after his suicide attempt - Nathan had dropped 14 stone, and has spent the last year dedicating his time to building the perfect body. Nathan now plans to enter body building competitions to showcase his transformation. Old ways: Before his lifestyle overhaul, Nathan was a sugar addict who gorged on bacon and egg butties, chocolate bars, alcohol and greasy takeaways, all of which he then quit cold turkey . 'I just want to show that it is possible to achieve what you want and it is never too late to get to where we want to be in life,' he said. 'I am so much happier now and my life at the moment has completely changed around from where it was three years ago.' He added: 'I am single but I do get attention from girls that I obviously wouldn't have got before. 'I want to show the people that bullied and harassed me that no matter how hard they beat me down, I will achieve more than them. 'If you’re unhappy with yourself, nothing is impossible and you should follow your dreams to become the absolute best version of yourself.' Reformed: By September 2013 - exactly two years after his suicide attempt - Nathan had dropped 13 stone, and has spent the last year dedicating his time to building the perfect body . Breakfast: Smoked salmon with egg and avocado . Lunch: Turkey salad . Snack: Cashew nuts or beef jerky . Dinner: Chicken and vegetables . Breakfast: Two bowls of cereal and a bacon and egg sandwich . Lunch: Takeaway burger or fish and chips . Snack: Crisps and a chocolate bar . Dinner: Healthy family cooked meal . Snack: Sainsbury’s meal deal .
target: Nathan Priestly, 21, slimmed from from 26 stone to 13 stone over two years .
  A failed suicide attempt at 18 was his catalyst for change .
  Nathan, from Norwich, traded alcohol and takeaways for the gym .
  He now wants to show his school bullies that he's defeated them .