Stranger’s punching abovemy weightjibe mademe shed5st

TOOK ACTION AFTER THROWAWAY REMARK Richard had piled on the pounds on a diet of burgers, Chinese takeaways and beer.. but a stranger’s joke in a pub that he wasn’t good enough for his wife shook his confidence and made him change his lifestyle

going to change. She saw I wasn’t happy and wanted me to be happy again so supported me. “I would never feel insecure with Kirsten – she’s a very solid person and we’re still in love as much today as when we met. I still get butterflies when I see her. “But the comment from the stranger really hurt. Now I think it’s probably the best thing that’s happened to me because I’m happier and healthier.” Richard joined the Glasgow club Xercise4Less – known as the people’s gym – in January and started working with his personal trainer Ross Alexander six times a week. He ditched fast food, and followed a special diet plan. Richard said: “Ross helped me to learn about weightlifting and diet. I’d tried diet groups before and nothing worked for me but Ross made me up a diet plan and I started to lose weight.” By 12 to 14 weeks, his jeans were too big and his body started changing shape, gaining four inches on his shoulders.

“Kirsten was so supportive and joined the gym with me and toned up,” he said.

Now Richard has lost five stone, dropping through four sizes down to 13 stone. His waist has shrunk from 42in to 34in and he’s gone down from a size 3XL to a large.

“Losing weight has taken 15 years off me. My nickname is Benjamin Button,” he said.

Richard splashed out on clothes for his new size. “I didn’t buy myself clothes for 10 years while I was overweight – but this year alone I’ve spent £3500 on clothes. My old jumpers were like bed sheets.

“I feel younger and stronger now and I’ve never had a physique like this before. I feel I’m a recovering foodaholic.

“But now I watch what I eat as I never want to go back to the way I was. When I look at photos I feel like I was an old person with a different attitude and outlook.”

Kirsten said she was shocked when she heard Richard had been told he was punching above his weight as she didn’t agree.

But as the weight went on over the years she worried about his health – especially as she works in a GP surgery.

She said: “I still saw the same handsome man I met. But I could see he was heavy and that he was tired more often and I just thought, ‘Your health is suffering’.

“I know the long-term implications of being heavy include the risk of type 2 diabetes, problems with joints and a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.

“We ate healthily at home but Richard was eating out with clients and he was stressed with work so would have beers at night. He put the weight on gradually.

“When I heard what the man at the bar had said to Richard I felt horrible – I never thought that.

“It bothered me for him but not for me because I knew it wasn’t true.

“But it changed things so I’m actually grateful to that person for being out that evening as I have a healthier husband. Now he’s happier, more active and less tired.” ● Hair by Taylor Ferguson 106 Bath Street, Glasgow. www.taylorferguson.com