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Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg shed 20 pounds after ditching Guinness

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Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg has revealed he shed 20 pounds this summer after giving up Guinness.

Hogg, whose involvement in the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand had been ended by a fractured eye socket, made the decision when he struggled to fit into his suit at Duncan Weir's wedding.

He returned to action, following shoulder surgery, with Glasgow last month and has scored three tries in his two outings so far this term.

"I was sick of seeing photos of how fat I was getting, so I decided to shed a few pounds," he said ahead of Scotland's autumn opener against Samoa.

"It was mainly after the summer. I knew I was getting a shoulder op and I had the potential to balloon. I actually took the decision at Duncie Weir's wedding in July, where I was an usher, and I was struggling to get the jacket shut from the measurements taken six months earlier.

"It's made a difference in terms of how I look and how I play but also in terms of life in general, which makes it sound like I've been in rehab! I lost about nine kilos [20 pounds] and then managed to put a couple back on when the shoulder was building back up again.

"I was quick last year but now it's roughly similar scores but more consistent and I feel I can go for longer as well. I'm never going to be a guy who can run over the top of people so I need to be in a position where I can go around them or step them. I also did a lot of speedwork when I was injured and hopefully that will help."

When asked how rugby's passion for sports science and nutrition had passed him by, Hogg said with a grin: "I just wasn't listening."

Hogg was ruled out of the Lions tour less than two weeks after arriving in New Zealand in June following a collision with Conor Murray's elbow.

He departed with hopes of starting all three Tests against the All Blacks, but the Scotland fullback insists his experience was not a wasted one.

"I learned a hell of a lot," he said. "I worked closely with Rob Howley, Warren Gatland and Andy Farrell. Cracking coaches. I was only there a short time but I still managed to learn a lot.

"Things I've tried since getting back to full fitness. It's only going to improve me getting different feedback from different coaches. I just want to get the best out of myself. If anybody has got any feedback I'm going to take it on board."

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