‘Big Dave’ trims down to win title
AN ORMSKIRK man has reduced his waist by 20 inches, after going on a weight loss mission. Dave Whalley joined his local Slimming World in September, 2016, weighing around 25st, and has since lost 8st 5lb. The 48-year-old said that even his friends sometimes do not recognise him since he lost weight.
Dave, who is a psychiatric nurse for the NHS, said: “I feel like a new man since losing weight – in fact, I look so different that people who I haven’t seen for a while often can’t believe I’m the same person.”
His achievement has led to his being announced as the Ormskirk slimming group’s Man Of The Year 2018.
His decision to join the weight loss group came after he realised that being unhealthy was making him unhappy.
The dad-of-two explained: “I was really unhappy and so unhealthy. My mobility was limited and I was on medication for high blood pressure.
“I was quite apprehensive about joining the group but I got an amazingly warm and friendly welcome from my consultant and all the members.
“Since then, I’ve made so many friends at the group and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without their support each week.
“My GP has now taken me off the medication that he originally said I’d be on for life – and this is due to my weight loss.”
Since joining the group, Dave has been following the eating plan and said he was surprised to discover he could still eat all his favourite dishes.
He said: “People think slimming means going hungry, eating nothing but salad or obsessively counting every calorie you eat, but it’s not like that at Slimming World.
“I love food and it’s never once felt like I was on ‘a diet’ – in fact, people are always surprised at how much food I have on my plate and can’t believe I’m losing weight eating so much delicious food.
“I still enjoy all my favourite meals, like curries and cooked breakfasts, but I’ve learned how to make small changes like using lean meat or cooking with low calorie spray.”
Dave is now the lowest weight he has been for years and he has dropped from a size five X-large to a large in shirts.
He said: “I have completely replaced my wardrobe and I used to have to go to specialist shops for clothes, but now I can shop wherever.
“From struggling to tie my shoe laces, I am now a member of a local gym and I’m now even doing the ‘couch to 5k.’
“I really do feel, look and act like a different man.”
Slimming World consultant Tina Whewell said: “The changes we’ve seen in Dave are incredible.
“I hope his success will inspire other people in West Lancashire who’d like to lose weight by forming new lifestyle habits and become happier and healthier to take action.”