For as long as I could remember, I’d always struggled with my weight. Working as a supermarket delivery driver meant I spent most of my day sitting behind the wheel, and I prioritised convenience when it came to my food choices. Sugary cereal for breakfast, thick sandwiches for lunch and plenty of chocolate and crisps while I was on the road had become the norm. I didn’t think my diet was especially unhealthy because we always ate a healthy dinner in the evening – looking back, I realised that one balanced meal wasn’t enough to outweigh some of my less healthy habits throughout the day.

Everything changed, though, in 2021, when my dad suddenly passed away from a cardiac condition.

Losing him was devastating. He’d always been active, so his death came as a huge shock to our family. Not long afterwards, my wife Sarah and I had a heart-to-heart that changed the course of my life. She gently told me she was worried about my weight and health, and deep down, I knew she was right.

As painful as it was, losing Dad made me realise I didn’t want to keep taking my health for granted. We have a four-year-old son, Alfie, and I wanted to be there for all the important moments in his life. I wanted to be the active, healthy dad he deserved.

In April 2025, I joined Slimming World in Alness, Highland, determined to make lasting changes.

I’d been a member before, but I had a short-term goal back then. I wanted to lose weight for a holiday, and once that was over, my old habits soon crept back in.

This time felt completely different. With the support of my Consultant, Lorraine, and the other members in group, I learned how to stop focusing on quick fixes and to think about how to create healthier habits for life. Instead of trying to change everything overnight, I made small, realistic changes that fitted naturally into my everyday routine. For the first time, I felt like I had a plan I could stick to.

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Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, helped me understand where my eating habits had been holding me back – mainly my breakfasts, lunches and snacks.

How Slimming World’s healthy eating plan works

Now, I prepare my breakfast and lunch the night before, so I’m not caught out during a busy shift. I snack on fruit or a Slimming World Hi-fi bar instead of reaching for crisps and chocolate, and I’ve discovered plenty of satisfying meals, like Hunter’s chicken risotto, that keep me full and not feeling deprived.

One of the biggest things I learned was that healthy eating doesn’t have to mean giving up the foods you love – it just means finding new ways to enjoy them.

I’ve always enjoyed cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, so when Slimming World’s Challenge 100 campaign launched earlier this year, I decided to create something special for my group’s taster session.

Italian and Mexican are two of my favourite cuisines, and I loved the idea of combining flavours from them both. The inspiration for my Chicken burrito lasagne came one day when I was suffering from a bout of man flu. I was craving something spicy, creamy and comforting, and I had some batch-cooked chicken burrito filling in the freezer – so I decided to try something different. After a bit of experimenting and plenty of fine-tuning, I created a dish that quickly became a family favourite. I never imagined it would go any further than our dinner table!

When Lorraine announced that my recipe had won our group’s competition, I was genuinely overwhelmed. The support and encouragement from everyone in group was incredible.

Then came an even bigger surprise...

My Chicken burrito lasagne was chosen as the overall winner from entries across the UK and Ireland and would become part of the Slimming World food range!

Seeing my creation appear in Iceland freezers was an indescribable feeling. I still can’t quite believe that people all around the country can now buy and enjoy a meal that started as an experiment in my kitchen!

Knowing that my recipe might help someone on their weight loss journey makes me incredibly proud.

Since joining Slimming World, I’ve lost an amazing 7st 7½lbs (47.9kg) – but what I’ve gained has been even more important.

I have more energy than ever before. I’m fitter, healthier and much more active. Where I used to look for the easiest option, I now look for opportunities to move more. I’ll cycle to pick up ingredients for dinner, walk instead of driving into town, and even park further away when I’m making deliveries so I can get some extra steps in. Those small changes have added up to a huge difference in how I feel.

We’ll help you gradually build up your fitness with our active lifestyle programme

Most importantly, I feel confident about the future. Slimming World has given me the tools, confidence and support to completely change my lifestyle. It’s taught me that lasting weight loss isn’t about being perfect. It’s about building habits you can maintain, one step at a time.

Losing my dad made me realise how precious our health really is, and joining Slimming World helped me do something about it.

Today, I’m healthier, happier and making memories with my family – and that’s the greatest achievement of all.

Weight loss will vary according to your individual circumstances and how much weight you have to lose.