LESS IS MOORE
GAA ref Thomas lost 51/ st after seeing pic of himself in 4XL jersey
CO LAOIS YESTERDAY
A GAA ref has told how an incredible weight loss transformation has changed his life for the better.
Tomas Moore was more than 20 stone at his heaviest but managed to lose five-and-a-half stone in just 11 months.
The 29-year-old told Laois Today his weight was taking a toll on his health and he feared he might die early.
Tomas said: “The number one reason for doing this was my health, two was the family and three was getting active.
“I had chest pains, shortage of breath – the usual problems associated with being heavy.
“I didn’t want to end up in a coffin in my late 20s so I knew I had to start doing something.”
He was also concerned about the impact his weight had on family life with his fiancee Danielle and daughter Kiera.
Tomas said: “Having a small child and having to run after her in years to come or the fear of not being able to play with her in the garden was a big thing.”
Tomas, who works as an administrator for Laois GAA and referees games, added his wake-up call came after he saw a photo of himself wearing an Aston Villa jersey in size 4XL.
He said: “A couple of us went to a match last May.
PHOTO
“We got a tour of the ground and a photo taken on the pitch.
“It was that photo that told me to take action.”
The following month Tomas began his weight loss journey.
He said: “We had a weigh-in in the GAA club and I didn’t get up on the scales out of fear and embarrassment.
“I had been a member of the Portlaoise Leisure Centre for a number of years but I never used it so I went and got assessed.”
Tomas also had to reform his eating habits as he often ate takeaways and drank fizzy drinks.
He said: “I would have had seven bottles of Lucozade a day, constant snacking and I was also a terrible man for takeaways.”
Tomas began eating small, healthy regular meals and incorporated regular workouts at the gym into his daily routine.
In just six weeks, he noticed a change in his physique.
Tomas now weighs 14-and-ahalf stone and hopes to lose another half a stone to get to his goal weight.
He said the support of his family kept him going through tough times.
Tomas added: “Doing this has definitely made me feel more confident, active and more able to do things.”
I didn’t want to end up in a coffin in my late 20s so I knew I had to start to do something TOMAS MOORE