I come from a close family who all love our food, so being big felt like the norm when I was growing up. I was at my happiest when working through a plate of deep-fried sausages and chips, usually followed by a large slice of cake. As the years went by, the number on the scales matched my age – at 13 I was 13st (82.6kg), and by 18 I’d gone up to 18st (114.3kg). 

In my late teens, I found something else that made me just as happy as food: off-road driving. It was fast, fun and furious. I loved it – even if my size made it more uncomfortable for me than it did for my friends. 

When I left school and started my own security guard business, I used my position as boss to make sure I was always car-based rather than on patrol, so I never had to chase after anyone. Five years later, though, when I switched my business focus to electrical safety, I couldn’t avoid having to climb under desks to check equipment. By then, I was up to 25st (158.8kg) and my joints and muscles ached so much I couldn’t manage more than an hour without taking a break. 

For lunch I’d go for whatever option was cheap and easy, such as a sausage roll or a meal deal with a share bag of crisps and a fizzy drink. In my mind, the money I saved on the ‘deals’ went towards the cost of the curry or Chinese I’d pick up for dinner. 

When my first wife, Sandie and I had our son, David, in 2008 – and then our daughter, Anna, a year later – it reminded me how unfit I was. Too proud to say anything, I was filled with guilt and sadness as I sat on the sofa, watching Sandie playing on the floor with the two children. I knew that if I joined in, I’d be out of breath within minutes. I was gutted to be missing out on those special moments. 

After trying and failing to lose weight through various fad diets, I joined Slimming World – and within a year I’d lost nearly 7st (44.5kg). The problem was that I never saw it as a long-term lifestyle change. As soon as I got down to 18st (114.3kg), I stopped going to group, believing I’d achieved what I’d set out to do.

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Gradually, the bacon sandwiches, crisps and chocolate bars began to slip back in. By then I’d got married again, and it was only because my second wife, Sadie, was naturally quite health-conscious – and we always made healthy dinners – that I avoided gaining weight. On the downside, it meant I could convince myself I was doing OK – after all, I was still managing to take part in my beloved off-road driving competitions, wasn’t I? I conveniently ignored the fact that I couldn’t get in and out of the cars fast enough to win any trophies.

When our daughter, Lauren, was born in 2015, I couldn’t run around after her or Sadie’s sons, Craig and Alex (just like when David and Anna had been small). Instead, when we went to the park or play centre, I’d sit on a bench, watching them all have fun without me. Every now and then, I’d give Slimming World another go and would lose a bit of weight, but my heart was never in it.

When Sadie and I broke up, the children came to live with me, while David and Anna stayed at mine at least 10 days a month. I knew how lucky I was to still spend so much time with them all. Even so, it felt as though the spark had gone out of my life. Wanting to prove I could still be a ‘fun dad’, I often nipped to the supermarket to pick up cookie dough ice cream for dessert.

In August 2024, just before I turned 39, I got a text from my old Slimming World Consultant, Sascha. ‘I’m relaunching your old group,’ it read. ‘I’d love it if you came along.’ The next morning, I knew that if I didn’t take this opportunity to do something, all that lay ahead of me was a lifetime of sitting on the sofa eating takeaway pizza and feeling utterly miserable. I thought about my kids and how I didn’t want to pass my unhealthy habits down to them. Even worse was the thought that I might not even be around long enough to see them grow up. It was the wake-up call I needed. ‘Great to hear from you,’ I texted back to Sascha. ‘I’m coming back to group.’

A few days later, I did just that, walking into the hall to Sascha’s welcoming smile – determined that, this time, I was going to change my life. I knew I wanted to give it my all and finally make lasting healthy changes. 

Armed with the Slimming World members’ app, I went shopping and filled my trolley with fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, fat-free natural yogurt and lean meats. And I didn’t pick up a single tub of ice cream! I swapped breakfast fry-ups for overnight oats with berries and took blueberries or bananas to snack on at work. One of the biggest changes I made was learning to batch cook, which meant not only did I always have a healthy meal on standby, but the kids did, too. I’d buy enough fresh ingredients to make up to 20 portions of chilli con carne or chicken curry at a time, filling the freezer so that I could take a portion to work every day and the kids could easily defrost one whenever they needed to. 

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

Two weeks after rejoining Sascha’s group, I’d lost almost 1½st (9.5kg) and was already beginning to feel better. As my confidence grew, I became more ambitious in the kitchen and started to get the kids involved. Every week, I’d pick up more tips and recipe ideas in group, and as I reached one milestone after another, my fellow members became my biggest cheerleaders.

It meant a lot when, just over two months and 3st (19.1kg) down, I was voted Slimming World Icon by all my friends in group. Being surrounded by so much positivity each week spurred me on, and by this point I was really starting to notice a difference in my health and energy. My joints were less painful and I could buy a size medium shirt after wearing XXXL for years! Best of all, the joy I’d lost was now returning. Instead of worrying that I was slowing down my off-roading team, my teammates began commenting on how agile I’d become. 

My sister, Samantha, was so inspired by my success that she decided to come to group with me. Between us on Christmas Day that year, we served up a full Slimming World turkey roast for 25 friends and family members!

As the weight came off, my body confidence grew and I started going to the gym. Before long I’d achieved my Platinum activity award following Slimming World’s active lifestyle programme, doing a HIIT class most days, as well as running or cycling a couple of times a week with the kids.

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

In February 2025, I reached my target of 11st 8lbs (73.5kg). My physique had changed as I became more toned, and for the first time in years, I liked the way I looked in clothes. So much so, I became the proud owner of two fully-stocked wardrobes! Instead of baggy T-shirts, I began shopping for tailored shirts with my daughter, Anna, acting as stylist.

Just a month after I hit target, my mum, who had cancer, passed away. I was heartbroken and could so easily have let grief throw my weight maintenance plans off track. For the first time in my life, though, I didn’t turn to food for comfort – all the planning and deeper thinking that Sascha had encouraged me to do in group taught me that, in reality, it’d only make me feel worse. 

It’s hard to put into words how much my life has changed for the better. Not only has my business grown due to my new-found confidence in building client relationships and bidding for new contracts, but my family life is exactly what I’d always hoped it would be. I don’t worry any more that I won’t be around to see my kids grow up. I’m making lasting memories with them and finally feel like I’m the role model they deserve. 

I’m so excited (and still slightly in disbelief!) to say that, alongside Sascha, I’ll be running the 2026 London Marathon in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK as part of the Slimming World marathon team.

Over the past few months, Sascha and I have grown incredibly close – so much so that we’re now more than just training partners! Having someone by my side through the long runs, tough sessions and wobbly moments has made this whole journey even more special.

If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be taking on a marathon, I’d never have believed you. Crossing that finish line will be one of the biggest achievements of my life. I’m so proud to be part of this team and I can’t wait for us to take on this incredible challenge together.

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