"On May 1, it had taken me four weeks to read my weight on the scales," he remembers. "It was three belt notches 'til I could see that I weighed in at 159.9kg. At my peak I was 170kg so I was one big boy. But on the 26th of July I was down to 132kg. I was back on track."
Melville had played a lot of sport as a kid but nothing after he left school and his weight ballooned.
"I was 22, overweight, not really going anywhere in life and drinking my problems away."
He went on holiday for two weeks at the start of the year and made a concerted effort to get healthy again.
He decided to join Usana, a weight management programme - because a workmate had endorsed it to him.
"I found out that they had this great Reset Programme and my friend had seen great results so I tried it thinking I had nothing to lose."
At the start, Melville was working a 7.30am to 5.30pm day job and it was hard to find the time and energy.
"But I found the drive and determination after I saw the weight falling off me."
He started walking a bit, as it was a struggle at first, but he pushed through the pain barrier. While he was exercising hard Melville was also eating better. He ate the Usana food - shakes with water, nuts, water and fruit. His favourite meal was always chicken and mixed vegetables.
"Being a single man I'm not cooking anything fancy so what I cut out was potatoes, bread, alcohol, any processed foods and sugar. If I do get bread for a change it's the whole-meal one. It made a big difference."
He started at over 160kg. He dropped five clothes sizes and his quality of life improved out of sight.
"So much has changed for me. I sleep better. I have more self-respect now. I have a new drive and determination to do things with my body that I have not done before. My alcohol levels have dropped and my joints don't ache any more. In the last six months I've done more and experienced more than I have in my lifetime. It's not just about the weight loss, it is a lifestyle change.
"The first step was to just turn up."
With all that in mind he expects completing the Milford to Invercargill Heart Kids Charity Ride will be an emotional experience.
"When I cross the line it will be a big relief and another goal ticked off. A wee tear of happiness of how far I have come in last seven months."
Melville, now a guest speaker for Usana as a success story, wants to be 110kg by Christmas and on January 22 he wants to be under 100kg, which he hasn't been since he was 10.
He has some simple advice for others looking to lose weight.
"That change is hard at the start but it is possible ... Don't make excuses. You can change your life."
Biking for Heart Kids
What: Milford to Invercargill Heart Kids charity ride
When: Today
Where: Southland
The race is a fundraiser for the Southland Heart Kids and raised $20,000 last year.
For more information: www.cyclingsouth.org.nz/index.php?pageLoad=220&itemId=1322
