Jordan’s nine-stone weight loss is inspiration to others
JANUARY is a time when a lot of people want to eat healthier – and one man’s story may definitely inspire people to change their eating habits.
Jordan Baker was in a very different place five years ago.
After falling into bad eating habits he saw his weight creep up to around 24 stone, and it made him feel self-conscious and prevented him from doing everyday things like socialising with friends.
But Jordan, 35, of Bridgend, has now lost just over nine stone and is inspiring others to get fitter and healthier.
In an attempt to help others, the office worker, has spoken out about his journey and what led him to make some life-changing decisions.
Despite that fact he always struggled with his weight, Jordan said health implications pushed him into changing his ways.
There is a history of diabetes and arthritis in his family and, as he got older, he said it became “more of a concern”.
Jordan said: “After graduating from university I pursued a career in retail management. I achieved my dream of obtaining a position in retail on board the QE2.
“Prior to joining the ship, I managed to lose weight and set off on my year-long adventure with newfound vigour and confidence.
“Being constantly in the public eye plus having a busy energetic c lifestyle, I was able e to maintain my y weight loss.
“I came back k home and began n working in a more e office-based job b and the weight t started creeping up p on me.”
He said he hated d shopping for clothes s and “having to buy y unfashionable plus- size clothes”.
“I felt really y uncomfortable and d ashamed of my appearance,” he said. “I had been with my partner for 10 years but my weight started to affect the things we did – like going on holidays.
“I changed from booking hotels for holidays to booking villas with private pools.
“It began affecting everything we did, everything I would do socially. I wouldn’t want to go out. It was a really big thing.” He said it wasn’t the quantity of food he was eating that was the problem – it was more the types of foods. He added: “It was takeaways, it was packet food, it was jars of sauce. It was all easy y and quick.” q So Jordan st started to make so some changes to th the way he was e eating. And now he’s healthier and happier than he’s been in a lo long time. “I really did t take to it,” he s said. “I found it quite easy to follow. “It was doing t things like making things fresh and cooking. Eating more vege- tables. I found it really enjoyable to make more of my own food.”
Since changing his lifestyle and eating habits, Jordan feels a lot healthier, has more confidence and has even started his own Slimming World group to help others.
Speaking about how his weight loss has changed his life, he said: “Socially it’s much better. To be honest when I say socially, it’s everything. It’s being able to buy fashionable clothes, it’s socialising. I can now go out for food with friends or friends can come over and I can cook. In everything I do I am more confident, even in work.
“This has changed my life in such a positive way. It has inspired me to want to help others achieve their weight loss and feel as happy as I do.”
Jordan’s Slimming World Group runs every Tuesday from 5.30pm at Cowbridge Rugby Club.