Michael loses 10st after ‘wake-up call’
NECKING back his second litre of fizzy drink for the day while tucking into his takeaways, Michael Lord was not about to change the way he ate.
Fast food, sweets, crisps and anything else he could lay his hands on were the main diet for the dad-of-three.
Despite not being able to fit into plane seats, not being able to bend down to pick something up off the floor, or even keeping up with his kids playing, it was still not enough to make Mike change what he was shovelling down every meal time.
But it was the tragic death of a friend, who was also overweight, which persuaded the 34-yearold dad to change his ways – and he has now shed a staggering 10 stone from his 27-stone body in just 10 MONTHS.
Mike, from Royton, said: “It got really bad. I couldn’t get upstairs without getting out of breath.
“Playing with my children was upsetting because I couldn’t keep up with them. I would always say I would eat better from Monday, and it’s that common problem that a lot of people have. Monday never came.
“If I dropped something in the foot well of the car I couldn’t physically pick it up. At my heaviest, car seat belts could barely fit around my body.
“The worst was plane seats. I didn’t go abroad because I knew that I wouldn’t fit in the seat. It was devastating. I lost all confidence.” But despite Mike’s weight affecting so many aspects of his life, it wasn’t until a friend, who was also overweight, died suddenly, that he got the push he needed.
He said: “That was the moment I knew I had to make a change. I didn’t want to die. I wanted to be around for my wife and children. My friend was the same age as me and had children too. That was the wake-up call that has saved my life.”
From that day he made healthier food choices, joined a gym, started walking to keep fit, and eventually changed his job which meant he could focus on fitness.
Mike said: “The start was the hardest. I felt terrible and moody. But after a few days I got used to it.
“I started walking on the treadmill and now I am able to run 5km, which I am incredibly proud of.
“It’s brilliant knowing I can do that now. I also ride bikes with my children so I can spend quality time with them too.”
Mike now has a new love for life.
He said: “I can play with my children now which they love.
“My family are really proud of me which at the time you kind of shrug off but actually it means everything to me.
“I am now going to try to run a half marathon next year too. My goal is to get my weight under 16 stone so I can do a skydive – that would be incredible.
“It’s like a brand new me. I know it’s a cliché, but it’s the truth.”