FLABBY CABBIES LOOKING FABBIE!
Niki Tennant Two Wishaw cabbie pals agreed enough was enough after sitting down on the job made them pile on the pounds.
Black Hackney taxi drivers Jim Cranston and Calum Hoey put the brakes on their junk food habit and steered their lifestyles in a new direction.
And between them the pair have lost a staggering nine stones.
Grandpa Jim, 63, tipped the scales at 20st 2lbs when he decided to take action and lose weight.
He had previously had a hip replacement and was concerned about the strain his increasing weight was putting on the joint.
For moral support, his sister Janice Hamilton offered to accompany him to a Slimming World meeting at South Wishaw Parish Church in February 2016.
“I thought it was brilliant, the people were fantastic and the help you get is unbelievable,” enthused Jim, of Craigneuk, who has been driving a taxi since 1991.
“Before, I was in the habit of going to burger vans and bakeries. Now I have a healthy breakfast and I take a bag of fruit for when I get hungry when I’m working.”
With the support and encouragement from consultant Nikki Musgrove and fellow class members, Jim has lost five and a half stone to reach his target weight of 14 and a half stone.
Five months ago, he was crowned a diamond member of Slimming World for maintaining his target weight for a whole year.
Fellow Wishaw cabbie Calum Hoey, who weighed 18 stone, had already decided to take steps to shed the pounds after being shocked to see a photograph of himself at wife Lynn’s 50th birthday party in December 2016.
That is when he bumped into a slimline Jim and couldn’t believe the transformation his Slimming World journey had made.
“When you see drivers in taxis, all you see is their head. I met Jim and said: ‘Look at the difference in you!’
“He told me all about how he had gone to Slimming World and how easy it had been. I decided to get Christmas out of the way first and joined in January last year,” explained dad-of-four Jim, of Overtown.
“We were going on a Mediterranean cruise in the summer, so I was determined to enjoy it and see all those wonderful places in Spain, Italy and France.”
Within only six months, 50-year-old Calum had hit his target weight of 14 and a half stone.
He puts his achievement down to the Slimming World eating plan that allows him to eat satisfying portions but still lose weight.
“The recipes are geared up for men. I cannot get my head around how much I have lost by eating so much food – but it’s the right kind of food,” explained Calum.
“I am picking up the same people in the taxi night and day and they are commenting on how much weight I have lost. I tell them what I have done and enourage them to go to the class.”
Calum is also urging fellow United Taxis’ drivers to follow his example and change their lifestyles.
“Anybody who does driving for a living will end up heavy,” said Jim, who joined the taxi firm’s Wednesday evening walking sessions to maintain fitness and his target weight.
“My wife is an amazing cook and she really enjoys cooking the brilliant Slimming World recipes. I eat like a lord. I wouldn’t eat better if I was dining out in a restaurant every night.”
Consultant Nikki added: “I’m extremely proud of what they have both achieved, having understood the challenges of eating on the run when in any driving job.
“From my experience, men find it more difficult to come along to groups as they think its predominantly women, but men do great with their weight loss in all the local groups and I’m delighted to sing the praises of Jim and Calum.
“I’d say to men thinking of getting some help with their weight loss, don’t suffer in silence. We will be there to welcome you with open arms and make the experience as comfortable as possible,”
Groups run at South Wishaw Parish Church on Thursdays 9.30am, 5.30pm and 7.30pm, and Fridays 9.30am and 11.30am.
Contact Nikki on 07861 703741, or to find your local group visit our website, slimmingworld. co.uk.
I’m delighted to sing the praises of Jim and Calum