Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Slimming Gordon’s keen to pass on his weight loss expertise
A weight expert from Coatbridge is looking to pass on the knowledge he has gained to others.
Gordon Beck decided to sign up to WW – formerly Weight Watchers – as he didn’t want to look “like he’d eaten a small child”.
He has gone on to lose twoand-a-half stones and become a coach for the slimming organisation.
Gordon said: “Seeing a picture of myself looking like I’d eaten a small child was the push I needed to lose weight and get fit.
“It was nerve- wracking walking through the doors of the WW for the first time but the coach, Jenni, noticed this and made me feel welcome and at home.
“I decided to join WW as I had workmates doing the plan and they all said how easy it was to follow; if they could do it, then so could I.
“I got off to a flying start and quickly started losing the weight I desperately wanted to; I got to my final goal weight set within six months and became a gold member in October 2015 then carried on towards my personal goal of getting to 13st 6lb, which I reached within another three months.
“I maintained my new weight for a couple of years but thought I could continue to do this on my own and fell away from attending my weekly workshop; and not having that support had a negative result on me and my new found weight loss.
“By Christmas 2015, I had gained 1st 7lbs and was feeling the gain, especially in my clothes, and my mood took a downturn.
“By this time the new flex plan had been launched and I was desperate to know what the difference was; this was a good time for me to regain my confidence as I needed to be the happy, cheery Gordon I was when I had lost the weight.”
Gordon added: “I quickly knew that I needed the support and Jenni would send encouraging texts and never judge me.
“My eating habits have changed drastically; I wouldn’t have thought twice about going for a chippy, Chinese meal or a pizza an hour or two after eating dinner.
“I used to go for lunch much the same and then have a big dinner when I got home from work.
“Now I only have a takeaway as a treat and I’m lucky if this is now once a month. Also, if I have a lunch out with friends or family, then I don’t have a dinner and can snack the rest of the night.
“My shape has changed and my clothes size has gone from an XL for my top and a 38-inch waist to a more comfortable medium top and almost into a size 30-inch trouser.”
Following his success, Gordon was then encouraged to share his experience with other people looking to follow in his footsteps.
He said: “I was flying and Jenni approached me about becoming a coach – something I had previously applied for two years ago but withdrew from.
“I got the job and made even more of an effort to get to goal again, which I reached in August.
“I now run my own workshops at Springfield community centre and the United Services Club in Motherwell; come along and join me to feel healthier and fitter.”
It was nerve-wracking walking through the doors