Iain reaches his slimming goal
A Rutherglen slimmer was on the ball recently after getting to meet a former football star.
Last month the Reformer told how Iain Welford had shed around half his body weight.
Losing an impressive 11 stone 4lbs meant Iain also reached the semi finals of a recent competition to find the best male slimmers in Britain.
At the awards he met the former Chelsea, Manchester City and England footballer Wayne Bridge.
Iain didn’t win the top prize, but was among the final 10 shortlisted for the title of Slimming World’s Top Male Slimmer of 2017.
It meant that his decision to join a slimming club had paid off.
He said: “I did worry that I’d be the only bloke in the room. I wasn’t but even if I was, it wouldn’t matter because everyone is there for the same reason and it’s such a supportive and friendly environment.
“All the hints, tips and recipes you pick up in group are really helpful too.
“I was a bit hesitant to tell people I was going to a slimming group at first, but once they noticed I was losing weight, the results spoke for themselves and I didn’t get any of the comments I expected.
“It’s even encouraged me to think about how active I am too, so I’ve taken up cycling.
“I’ve also joined a spin class at the local gym, which I attend every Sunday morning. Getting to meet Wayne was great too.”
Aleksandra Lennon, who runs the Rutherglen group that Iain attends, at the King’s Park Hotel, was understandably proud of Iain’s efforts.
She says: “A lot of men think that slimming clubs are female-only zones, and Iain is living proof that this isn’t the case.
“In fact, there are now 60,000 men attending Slimming World groups, which goes to show that men need just as much support as women to slim down.”
Wayne Bridge said: “It was a pleasure to meet Iain and I can’t believe his transformation, he doesn’t look like the same bloke.
“I really have to take my hat off to him for recognising that he had a problem and then having the courage to do something about it.
“I think many people would be guilty of thinking that going to a slimming club isn’t very manly so that makes it even harder for men to take that first step.
“He’s definitely a top bloke in my book.”