{"id":3236,"date":"2021-06-30T09:26:08","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T08:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slimmingworld.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=3236"},"modified":"2021-07-15T17:22:46","modified_gmt":"2021-07-15T16:22:46","slug":"i-lost-a-life-changing-8st-10lbs-in-15-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/i-lost-a-life-changing-8st-10lbs-in-15-months\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI lost a life-changing 8st 10lbs in 15 months\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Arriving at one of Glasgow\u2019s tall tenement buildings, at a call-out to a patient in a top-floor flat, my heart sank. As a paramedic, being able to get medical equipment up the stairs quickly could literally be a matter of life or death, but my weight made it difficult. I\u2019d often be struggling for breath by the time I arrived, which wasn\u2019t helpful to anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being on the road a lot made matters even worse. With no set meal times, I was constantly snacking on chocolate, pasties or crisps that I\u2019d pick up from petrol stations. And I\u2019d often stop off at a roadside cafe for an all-day fried breakfast, then have a takeaway for dinner because I was too tired to cook (usually followed by a big bowl of ice cream).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My medical wake-up call<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Then, in 2018, I needed an operation and was told that I had to lose weight before it could go ahead. I knew that I was on the large side \u2013 I was a keen golfer and it had become a job to get around the course \u2013 but I hadn\u2019t realised just how big I\u2019d become. Looking back on photos now, I can\u2019t believe that was me as I just don\u2019t recognise myself! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew a couple of people who\u2019d had great results with Slimming World, including a colleague who\u2019d lost over 9st since joining. I was amazed by his transformation \u2013 he didn\u2019t look like the same bloke \u2013 and I decided to give it a go myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MORE ON THE BLOG: Frankie\u2019s story \u201cI lost over 4st for my vintage-style wedding\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A shock on the scales<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It took me a few attempts to build up the courage to go to my local group, as I felt embarrassed and ashamed that I\u2019d ended up this way. Once I was in, though, everyone welcomed me and I was happy to see more guys in the group than I\u2019d expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing on the scales for the first time was a real eye-opener. I\u2019d stopped drinking a month before, and I felt like I\u2019d lost a bit of weight already, so it was a shock to see that I weighed 22st 12lbs. I honestly thought I was a lot lighter than that. There was no judgement from the group though, only encouragement, and I left feeling determined to do something about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MORE ON THE BLOG: A taste of Slimming World support<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Thomas<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Keeping things simple<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not a fancy eater (I like my mince and potatoes!) and I definitely wasn\u2019t a cook before joining Slimming World. I used to constantly snack (bread and cheese were a weakness, or I\u2019d smother chocolate spread on white toast), and dinner was usually a Chinese or Indian takeaway, or a deep-fried burger and chips. Now, I can cook bits and bobs. I tend to stick to the basics, like chicken and veg with Slimming World chips. And if I fancy a full English, I make scrambled or boiled eggs with grilled lean bacon and low-fat sausages. When I\u2019m really too tired to cook, I grab one of the Slimming World meals that I get from Iceland out of the freezer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In group, I learnt to make simple swaps so that I never feel like I\u2019m missing out. I mostly snack on fruit \u2013 I\u2019m eating so much more fruit and veg! \u2013 though I still enjoy cheese, I just go for the lighter 50%-less-fat option now. I still love my ice cream, too \u2013 now I choose a lower-calorie variety and have it as a treat. Incredibly, I haven\u2019t touched a drink since I gave up, and I don\u2019t miss it at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try Thomas\u2019s top recipes:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mixed berry porridge<\/a><\/strong>
All-day breakfast butty<\/a><\/strong>
Hunter\u2019s chicken<\/a><\/strong>
Slimming World chips<\/a><\/strong>
Vanilla ice-cream<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting my breath back<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During lockdown, I joined in with the virtual group when my shift work allowed, but it\u2019s fantastic that we can all see each other in person again now. My Consultant in Baillieston, Annemarie, is a godsend \u2013 she makes the sessions really interesting and fun. With her encouragement, I started doing Slimming World\u2019s activity programme, building up slowly to being more active each day. I started by just going for a wee walk, and although I was out of puff at first, within a fortnight I was feeling a difference and could go further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MORE ON THE BLOG: Aaron\u2019s story \u201cI gave up footie for fast food\u2026 until I scored a 16st weight loss\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Thomas<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A medical miracle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While I don\u2019t think what I\u2019ve done is anything spectacular, I feel so much better. And, as it turns out, I don\u2019t actually need to have my operation now that I\u2019ve lost weight! I\u2019ve gone down from a 4XL to a large in T-shirts, and from a 48in to a 34in waist \u2013 and that\u2019s while enjoying tasty meals and never feeling hungry once. As a first-time slimmer, I\u2019m so glad I chose Slimming World instead of going for a quick-fix option. The plan was so easy to follow \u2013 even for a novice cook like me \u2013 and going to group has really helped me to change my habits around food (I don\u2019t feel the need to grab those petrol station pasties any more). The support along the way, from people who really understand, has been brilliant. I\u2019m used to helping others as a paramedic and now I feel like I\u2019m the one who\u2019s been given a second chance at life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas\u2019s tips for eating well on the road <\/strong>\ud83d\ude91<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  1. Be prepared. I eat just before work so that I\u2019m not starting a shift hungry.<\/strong>
    <\/li>
  2. Plan if you can. I’ve learnt how to plan my work meals in advance, so that I know what I\u2019m going to be eating and when.<\/strong>
    <\/li>
  3. Take healthy snacks. I always have a big bag of varied fruit with me now, in case I feel peckish.<\/strong>
    <\/li>
  4. Get support. I make sure that my crew mate knows that I\u2019m on the Slimming World plan, and ask them not to offer me anything unhealthy.<\/strong>
    <\/li>
  5. Boost motivation. I carry an old photo of me before I lost weight. Remembering how I felt then is usually enough to put me back on track when I\u2019m wavering.<\/strong>
    <\/li>
  6. Keep it simple. I stick to quick and easy dishes after a busy shift – and I have some ready meals from the Slimming World Free Food range in the freezer for when I\u2019m just too tired to cook.<\/strong>
    <\/li>
  7. Be realistic. There are times when nothing can keep me from chocolate, crisps or a roadside cafe stop <\/strong>\u2013 I\u2019m only human! Food Optimising gives you the freedom to include treats in moderation, so I indulge just enough to stop the craving, before getting straight back onto my new healthier way of eating.<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Find out more about joining Slimming World here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Paramedic Thomas Berry responded to his own 22st emergency, driving his weight down to 14st! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3231,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[25,23,19],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3236"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}