Health threat inspired loss
When Cambuslang plumber Ian McGregor’s doctor told him that his type 2 diabetes had reached a stage so serious that he should not get behind the wheel of his van without doing a blood test, he knew he had to take drastic action.
Ian weighed a hefty 17st 1lb when his doctor told him during his annual check-up that she had to change his tablets and warned that he risked having a hypo at the wheel if he did not check his blood before driving.
“I use my van for work, so I was panicked a bit by that. It put the fear of God into me, so drastic measures were required,” explained Ian, 41, of Newton Farm.
“I said to my wife: ‘I have to do something about this.’”
The dad of one, who said he had tried “every diet under the sun,” without success, joined the Cambuslang Slimming World group in September, along with wife, Susan.
He was shocked to learn that he was consuming more ‘syns’ in a day than he should be in a week.
By cutting out take-aways and booze, and following Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Ian shed an impressive 2st 2lbs in less than three months.
Within only 11 weeks, Ian had reached his target weight of 14st 11lbs.
“When I went back to my doctor for my next checkup, she couldn’t believe it,” said Ian, whose waist has dropped from 40in to a comfortable 36ins.
“She was gob-smacked that I’d lost so much weight in that short period. It wasn’t down to doing more exercise - I get that through the physical nature of my job. It was just diet control.”
Ian is amazed at the difference in his physical appearance. His XXL clothes no longer fit him, and he is now wearing L labels.
But, determined to lose even more weight and get down to 13st, he’s reluctant to shell out on a new wardrobe quite yet.
“I am feeling brilliant. I can’t remember the last time I had a 36in waist,” enthused Ian, whose wife, Susan has lost a stone and a half by following the same eating plan.
“I am now only a couple of points off being diabetesfree. It is the best thing I have ever done for my health. Going to the group helps so much. It’s fantastic. I enjoy coming. It’s a good laugh and gives me and Susan a goal every week.”
Ian attends Helen McGregor’s Monday group at the Baptist Church in Cambuslang, which run every Monday at 5.30pm and 7.30pm. Other local groups can be found on Slimming World’s Facebook page @swruthcam.