Looking back, my weight affected almost every part of my life. I felt embarrassed about how I looked, and my confidence was at rock bottom. I was constantly out of breath, my back was in agony and I never seemed to have any energy. Day-to-day life felt like a struggle.

As a letting agent, I was often out and about visiting properties, but there were times when I’d drive to a property that was only a two-minute walk away because I knew I’d be exhausted if I went by foot. I’d hope nobody spotted me.

The heavier I got, the less I seemed to do. I’d just accepted feeling uncomfortable, tired and limited. The truth is, I wasn’t really living – I was just getting through each day.

The moment that changed everything happened in September 2023. I went on a trip to Prague with friends and although I was excited beforehand, I was also terrified. I knew I’d need a seatbelt extender on the flight, but I was too embarrassed to ask for one. I sat down in my seat feeling nervous, hoping the seatbelt would fit somehow. It didn’t.

When the flight attendant noticed, she announced loudly and abruptly that I needed an extender. I can still remember the feeling – I went bright red and desperately tried not to cry. When the plane took off, I turned towards the window and the tears started rolling down my face. I wanted the ground to swallow me up. I also knew I couldn’t carry on like that. Something had to change.

Mum and I joined Slimming World together. It wasn’t my first time – I’d been a member in my early 20s and had lost around 4st (25.4kg) before losing the motivation to keep going. I was incredibly anxious about joining again and had even messaged my Consultant, Michelle, beforehand because I was so worried.

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I didn’t need to worry at all. Everyone made me feel welcome from the start and, despite feeling self-conscious about my size, I never felt judged. We were all in the same boat – trying to make positive changes and supporting each other along the way. I quickly realised that walking through the door on the first day was actually the hardest part.

Food Optimising suited me down to the ground. I could eat plenty of Free and Speed Free Food, so I made sure they formed the basis of every meal I ate. I didn’t ever feel hungry or like I was on a diet, I just focused on making better choices, building balanced meals and swapping less healthy habits for healthier ones.

Even my Friday-night takeaway stayed! Before Slimming World, I’d always go for a doner kebab. Now I create a fakeaway version at home, with chicken marinated in a homemade sauce, Healthy Extra fibre wholemeal pittas, piles of salad and Slimming World chips. It feels like a real treat, and I don’t miss my old takeaways one bit!

Try a fakeaway kebab

The Slimming World app has become one of my favourite tools, especially the barcode scanner, which is brilliant when I’m on the go. I also love listening to the Slimming World podcasts on my morning walks. Hearing other people’s success stories keeps me motivated and reminds me how far I’ve come.

Of course, there were challenges along the way. Not every weigh-in went the way I wanted it to and at times I felt frustrated and disappointed. As ever, it was my Slimming World group who came to my rescue with insightful strategies. I learned that if I slip up, I don’t wait until Monday or next week to ‘start again’. I simply pick myself back up and get straight back on plan.

As the weight began to come off, I felt able to gradually introduce some exercise into my routine – nothing extreme, just gentle walks. Little by little, my distances increased, until I could easily manage five miles in one go. As time went by, I ticked off my Slimming World active lifestyle programme awards one by one.

These days, I regularly run half-marathons and usually do two or three a month. It’s still hard for me to believe sometimes – this is coming from someone who used to struggle with a two-minute walk.

I’ve also taken up hiking, and have climbed Mount Snowdon – something that would have felt completely impossible before. I regularly walk on the beach near my home and enjoy being outdoors whenever I can.

The difference in my physical health has been incredible. I can walk pain-free, stand for long periods and move around with ease. 

The changes in my body have been amazing, but the difference in my confidence has probably been even more striking. I used to avoid social situations because I was embarrassed about my weight. Today, I enjoy meeting people, having conversations and making memories instead of worrying about how I look.

Sometimes I think back to that flight to Prague and how upset I felt. If you’d told me then that I’d be running half-marathons, climbing mountains and enjoying being active every day, I’d never have believed you.

If you’re a man sitting there wondering whether Slimming World is really for you, I completely get it because I felt exactly the same. But walking through those doors was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The support I found changed my life.

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