HEART SCARE PUT ME ON TRACK

Ty Gould, 48, lost 5st 7lb and now weighs 12st 9lb. The operations manager lives in Basingstoke, Hants, with his wife margaret, 50, an nHs worker. TY SAYS: At my heaviest I weighed 19st 7lb, then in 2014 I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, which means my heart muscles don’t work properly. I cut back on drink and took up cycling. I lost 2st but still ate huge portions. Then in October 2016 Margaret and I were on the sofa and I got up — the next thing I knew I was in hospital. Margaret called 999 and gave me CPR until the ambulance arrived. She saved my life. I had heart surgery, was fitted with a CRTD device that corrects heart rhythm and given drugs. Doctors attributed my cardiac arrest to faulty electrical signals in the heart. But there was no denying I was overweight and unfit.

In January 2017, I joined WW. I loved that no food was off limits, I just had to watch portion size. In nine months I hit my goal weight.

Margaret joined WW, too, and we plan a week’s meals and use the WW app to track SmartPoints. I cycle more — around 100 miles a week now. I’ve never felt so good.

Margaret’s lost nearly three stone, and looks amazing! I still go out for a drink – only now it’s a no-alcohol beer.