Medic’s advice carried lot of weight for couple
HUSBAND AND WIFE LOST A COMBINED 99LBS AFTER CARDIO NURSE’S SAGE WORDS
Representative of a typical in-home display. Based on UK Gov’s projected annual savings of 2% and a Blow Dryer using 2.47kWh. Savings possible by customers measuring energy use and cutting waste. Eligibility may vary. Available in England, Scotland and Wales by 2020. AFTER Darren Waddington had a heart attack at just 47 a cardiology nurse told him : “Go home, lose weight and live happily ever after.”
For Darren, now 51, they were words to live by.
His wife Helen, 43, from Highburton, said: “Darren had a heart attack in December 2015. The aftercare nurse that comes to cardio to see you said: ‘You need to lose a few stones’.
“He had two stents in his heart. He was only 47.
“She said: ‘Go home, lose weight and live happily ever after.’”
Helen says Darren still repeats that phrase.
But it wasn’t just Darren, a warehouse manager, who took note. It was also a wake-up call for his wife Helen, who had been healthy – but overweight – for years following the birth of their daughter Lucy.
Helen said: “I was fine but I was fed up of being Helen the fat friend.
“Being just over 5ft, you look fatter than you are.”
Now the couple have lost a combined 99lb. Darren, 5ft 7in, and, Helen 5ft 1.5in, were 17st 10lb and 12st 2lb respectively when they began their weight loss through Weight Watchers three years ago.
And losing weight became a compe- tition between husband and wife.
Helen said: “It was fun. You have banter. When Darren was losing more weight than me I said I would sabotage his packed lunch and put loads of butter on his sandwiches!
“If Darren lost 3lb one week I would try to lose more.”
Darren is on his way to his target weight of 12st 6lb – he’s currently 13st 8lb – while Helen is now 1lb below her target weight of 9st.
Now Darren’s blood pressure has fallen and he feels healthier. Helen says she feels much more confident.
She said: “I’m buzzing. I’m more confident and outgoing.”
Naturally, Helen recommends the flexible Weight Watchers plan.
Helen, who now models clothes for Kirkwood Hospice’s fundraising fashion shows, said: “You’re not restricted.
“Darren can still eat his chocolate and I can still have my wine and crisps.”
Helen is now a coach at Kirkheaton Weight Watchers group, which meets at Kirkheaton Primary School every Wednesday at 6.30pm.
Katie Rhodes, a Weight Watchers coach for the Kirkheaton group, said: “Helen and Darren have been an inspiration to each other, as well as to the rest of the Kirkheaton group.
“The laughter and energy that they bring is infectious, and it’s been a privilege to watch them both evolve and change their lives. I’m really proud of them both.”