A whole new world for slimming couple who shed more than 24st

Glyn and Gillian Woodward, who are originally from Stowmarket but have recently moved to Norfolk to enjoy their retirement, realised something had to change when 65-year-old Glyn was told that gastric surgery was his only hope of losing weight and leading a normal life. Over the years, Glyn’s weight had risen to more than 30st, meaning that his wife Gill, 63, who also struggled with her weight, had become his full-time carer and began to neglect her own health as a result.

Glyn, who has now lost almost 20st, says: “At my heaviest I had so many weight-related health issues. I was classed as three times morbidly obese and just couldn’t see a way out. I suffered with chronic sleep apnoea, depression and anxiety. To be honest, just existing when you’re that size is completely exhausting, and I depended on Gill entirely. My doctor told me that gastric surgery was my only hope and that the funding had been approved, but it just didn’t sit right with me and I couldn’t go through with it. I knew in my heart of hearts that surgery wasn’t the answer, as it wouldn’t give me the tools or support to change my eating habits, nor the psychological side of my weight problem.”

After pulling out of his planned weight-loss surgery with just weeks to go, in November 2013 Gillian joined their local Slimming World group in a bid to persuade Glyn to become a member too – which he did in August 2014. Gill, who has now lost 4st 8½lbs, says: “It was a very tough time for us. Glyn was at an all-time low, he was unable to walk unaided and had resorted to using a wheelchair. He was in constant pain and getting around had become so difficult that we’d effectively become prisoners in our own home. My weight was steadily rising too, and it was getting to the point that I was struggling to care for Glyn because of the extra weight I was carrying myself.

“I remember one rare occasion that we did venture into town, I parked the car at the top of a hill and pushed Glyn around the shops in his wheelchair. Only, when it came to taking him back to the car, I realised I didn’t have the strength to push him back up the hill. The exertion was so much that I had an asthma attack, and it was only thanks to two passers-by that I managed to get him back to the car. Glyn was mortified and I think it really brought it home to him that our quality of life was suffering drastically because of both of our weight struggles.”

Glyn was offered a 12-week Countdown course to Slimming World by his GP*, yet still needed a little extra persuasion to take the brave step to join for himself.

He says: “I knew that Gill was doing well with Slimming World, but I had so much weight to lose that it just felt completely overwhelming. Gill knew how nervous I was and so asked the Consultant Nicole to give me a call to try and put me at ease a bit. She seemed so welcoming and friendly that I eventually plucked up the courage to go along with Gill. I always say that those two wonderful women saved my life – I’ll be forever grateful to them.”

Glyn and Gillian decided that their goal would be to visit Glyn’s family in Malaysia, something that wasn’t possible when Glyn was in such poor health because of his weight. He says: “I said to Gill that when I’d lost enough weight I wanted to sit on a beach with her, drinking a cocktail and watching the sun go down. In March 2016 that’s exactly what we did. I still had a way to go to complete my journey, but just being able to fit into an aeroplane seat was a huge achievement for me. I felt like I was giving Gill back the life she deserved.”

Gillian adds: “For so long I neglected my own health because I was so busy caring for Glyn. To be honest I think I was in a bit of denial about my own weight. I’m quite petite so it really took a toll on me and my own health issues, like my asthma. Losing weight together definitely helped us to spur each other on and it was wonderful to see Glyn transform into the man I knew and loved, it was like my husband was coming back to me with every stone he lost. I had much more confidence too, so by the time we had that magical moment on holiday we were worth both feeling on top of the world.”

Now that the couple have both reached their target weights, they’ve decided to make the most of their new-found passion for walking by retiring on the Norfolk coast. Glyn says: “I remember the days when I could barely get out of bed unaided, yet now Gill and I think nothing of strolling arm-in-arm along the beach enjoying our new-found coastline. The change in our day-to-day lives really is mind-blowing.

“After losing almost 20st I was left with a lot of excess skin which presented its own issues. Over the past few months I’ve had several surgeries to make this a little more comfortable for me. It’s been a long journey but I can think of nothing better than spending the rest of my life freed from my excess weight and enjoying life with my wonderful wife. I feel as though we’ve both been given a second chance at life and we’re going to grab it with both hands.”

VITAL STATS:

Glyn Woodward

Age: 66

Height: 5ft 10ins/1.8m

Starting weight: 31st 8lbs/442lbs/200kg

Current weight: 11st 12½lbs/166½lbs/75kg

Weight loss: 19st 9½lbs/275½lbs/125kg

Starting waist measurement: 72ins/183cm

Current waist measurement: 30ins/76cm

Date joined Slimming World: August 2014

Gillian Woodward

Age: 63

Height: 5ft 4ins/1.6m

Starting weight: 12st 12½lbs/180½lbs/82kg

Current weight: 8st 4lbs/116lbs/53kg

Weight loss: 4st 8½lbs/64½lbs/29kg

Starting dress size: 18

Current dress size: 8

Date joined Slimming World: November 2013

Group: Glyn and Gillian attend the Needham Market and Cedars Park Slimming World groups in Stowmarket, run by Nicole Beatty.

Before menu:

Breakfast: 4-5 slices toast, spread with butter and jam

Lunch: Burger, chips and fizzy drink from a fast-food restaurant

Dinner: Deep fried meals, or rich meals out in restaurants like steak and deep-fried chips

Snacks: Peanuts, crisps, chocolate, pork pies, cake

Evening: Glyn would often have a whole block of cheese in a sandwich

After menu:

Breakfast: Toast with poached eggs, spinach and mushrooms

Mid-morning: Carrot crudités, pastrami rolled gherkins baby tomatoes

Lunch: Home-made vegetable soup with a prawn salad

Dinner: Home-made chicken Balti, cauliflower rice, mixed vegetables and carrot and sweet potato bhajis

Evening: A Slimming World high-fibre cereal bar or a fat-free yogurt with fruit

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