I’d always been big, even as a child. Growing up in a Caribbean family, food was love, celebration and comfort all rolled into one. My parents made sure we were well fed, with generous portions and plates piled high with all the trimmings. I truly enjoyed my food back then – and I still do.

Throughout my school years, I was nicknamed ‘Big Ray’ because of my size. Even at university, surrounded by close friends, I often felt like the spare part – just tagging along with the more confident people around me.

My weight affected more than just how I felt socially. I’d get out of breath climbing the stairs, and my knees would ache whenever I walked for long.

It even impacted my confidence at work as a primary school teacher. I usually spent break times alone in my classroom, avoiding any social interaction with colleagues. At lunchtimes, I’d quickly heat up my food and get back to my room as soon as possible.

I tried everything – juice diets, counting points, meal replacement drinks and bars. They worked for a while, but were never sustainable. The juice diets in particular left me feeling miserable, and as soon as I stopped, the weight went back on – and then some. Without anyone checking in on me, I had no real accountability, and it was all too easy to slip back into my old habits.

When I met my wife, Amy, we both got comfortable in our new relationship – and slowly, the weight crept on for both of us. Amy joined a Slimming World group and I decided to sign up to Slimming World Online, as I didn’t feel the group environment was for me. I made some progress, but then the Covid pandemic hit and everything shut down – and with it, my motivation to lose weight.

After restrictions were fully lifted in 2022, Amy and I wanted to take our health more seriously. Our GP referred us to a local Slimming World group, giving us vouchers for 12 weeks’ membership free on the NHS. 

Find your nearest Slimming World group

I was very apprehensive at first. I imagined I’d be the only man in a room full of women and that I’d be the biggest person there. The thought of talking about myself with others filled me with dread. Looking back now, I can’t help but wonder what I was thinking. The reality was completely different – the group was open and welcoming, and there were several men there, too!

The simplicity of Food Optimising meant I could continue enjoying the dishes I grew up having, such as homemade fried chicken and brown stew chicken with rice ’n’ peas – I’ve just learned to make simple tweaks, like using 1 cal cooking spray instead of oil. Meal prepping for the week ahead has become part of my routine now, and writing a shopping list to stick to stops me from slipping back into old habits.

Find out more about Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Food Optimising

The biggest change for me has been adding plenty of vegetables and fruit to my meals. Even when we have a takeaway, I make sure to include some Speed Free Food as part of my main dish.

The magazine and cookbooks are brilliant for inspiration. Once, we created a Chinese banquet of our favourite dishes – fully Food Optimised, of course! We also keep a few Slimming World food range meals in the freezer for busy days when we need something quick. Having all these tools makes it so much easier to stay on track.

When I eat out, I choose Slimming World-friendly options (like grilled meat) and avoid creamy sauces. I go in with the mindset that one meal won’t ruin the whole week. As long as I Food Optimise before and after, I can enjoy my night without guilt.

I’ve definitely had a few tough times during my journey. The biggest one was when I gained a stone in two weeks over a Christmas period – which then took five months to shift! What kept me going was the power of group support and just turning up each week. The reassurance from fellow members that I’d lose the weight if I kept doing the right things made all the difference – and they were bang on.

Knowing I had a group of people in the same boat as me – who genuinely wanted to see me succeed – was invaluable. Whenever I had a challenging week and felt tempted to reach for something off plan, I’d think ‘WWTGS’ – ‘What Would The Group Say?’ – and it always steered me back to the right choices.

As the weight started coming off, people began to notice and ask questions. That’s when I began sharing my journey. My family, friends and colleagues have been incredibly supportive, always checking in and commenting on the changes they’ve seen in me.

Even in my small village, where I walk twice a day, complete strangers have stopped me to say how they’ve seen me slowly shrink in size over the last few years. In fact, my own family didn’t recognise me at mine and Amy’s wedding vow renewal last year! Seeing their reactions was a moment I’ll never forget, and it made me realise just how far I’d come.

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

I used to live a very sedentary lifestyle, with only the occasional walk or bike ride. Slimming World’s active lifestyle programme encouraged me to get moving, and completing the activity awards became a huge motivator. I started walking more regularly, aiming for 10,000 steps a day – now, I’m closer to 15,000 most days!

This year, I’ve even taken up running – something I’d always hated, because carrying so much weight made it feel so difficult. At the start, I could barely run 10 metres. Now, I run three times a week, and one of those runs is over 10K! Losing weight has made being active so much easier.

Last year, Amy and I took part in a 5K Race for Life with our group and I completed it in just 28 minutes! I can cycle for miles and, most impressively, run 10K in under an hour – something I could never have imagined at the beginning of my journey.

There are so many things I can do now that I couldn’t before. I can get up in the morning without my joints aching and clicking. I can join football games with the children at my school during break times. One of the biggest changes has been going into any clothes shop knowing I can find items that fit! I used to wear XXXL shirts and 54-inch waist trousers. Now, I’m comfortably wearing a medium, and sometimes even a small. 

I have the confidence to walk into a room and, if I choose, be the centre of attention – something I never could’ve imagined at my heaviest, when I preferred to stay in the shadows.

Slimming World works because of Food Optimising and the power of the support system. Having that accountability and the support of fellow members has been crucial – when things are going well and when I face challenges. Thanks to Slimming World, I’m stepping into my 40s feeling stronger, healthier and more confident than I ever imagined possible.

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