I hope my big weight loss inspires others
ABUSINESS owner says his life has changed since he lost three and a half stone in less than six m months.
Stephen Spencer joined Southport Slimming World in January after making a New Year’s resolution to lose three stone to improve his health.
The 58-year-old set a target of losing the weight by the time his wife, Caroline, ran the London Marathon in A April – which he achieved the w week before.
Since then he says he feels as though he has seen improvements in every a aspect of his life.
The dad-of-three said: “I f feel much, much better now. My health has improved so much as well.
“I couldn’t walk very far b before, but when we went on holiday in May we were walking for hours – something I wouldn’t have been able to do previously.”
Stephen, of Formby, who owns Compressed Air Management in Bootle with Caroline, weighed almost 19st when he joined the slimming group, and is now down to a about 14 and a half stone.
The grandad-of-four s started to gain weight after a k knee injury in 2011, which meant he was no longer able to run very far.
He said: “I used to enjoy running, I have previously run four marathons, but I broke my knee playing football and I wasn’t able to run anymore.
“I tried to take up swimming to keep active, but it just wasn’t enough.”
After reaching his initial target, he set – and achieved – his next target of losing another half a stone before he went on holiday in May.
As well as changing his attitude and his health, Stephen’s weight loss has also meant that he had to buy a whole new wardrobe.
He said: “I have cleared my whole wardrobe out now – nothing fitted me anymore.
“I used to be a 40in waist in trousers and I’m now a 36. I have thrown out all of my old clothes and replaced with new ones – there is no way I’m going to need them again.”
In order to lose the weight, Stephen adapted his diet.
He said: “Since I started the plan in January, I haven’t had any alcohol – other than a few drinks on holiday.
“I strictly kept to the eating plan I was given at Slimming World but it isn’t too hard to stick to, even when eating out.”
He has also been going swimming three times a week, and walking his three springer spaniels four times a week.
Although he was originally nervous about going to Slimming World, Stephen insisted he had no regrets about joining.
He said: “It is quite hard going into Slimming World as a man, you think it’s just going to be all women.
“But I’m hoping by sharing my story I can encourage more men to join because it really works. And, after all, a gang of women is not as scary as it seems...”
As a result of his weight loss, Steve was also the proud recipient of Southport Slimming World’s ‘Man Of The Year 2018’ award.
He said: “I had realised I hit my weight loss target just before I went on holiday, and I was really happy.
“When I came back, I was given my certificate as well as being given the Man Of The Year award – I couldn’t believe it.”
Southport Slimming World Consultant, Dee Wright, said: “We are so very proud of his achievements and hope that his inspiration reaches out to other men reading this and encourages them to take that step into a Slimming World group.”
Dee runs Slimming World classes on Wednesday at 9.30am and Thursday at 5.30pm or 7.30am each week at St Simon and St Judes Church Hall in Old Park Lane, in Southport.
To find out more, contact Dee on 07711 566153.