Daughter’s baby news spurs man to six-stone weight loss
A MAN from Bridgend shed a whopping six stone – after his daughter told him he was going to be a grandad.
David Rice, now 57, was lying in his hospital bed with a strangulated hernia when his daughter visited him and gave him the news that she was expecting his first grandchild.
His blood pressure was up and his sugar levels were sky high, and with a family history of diabetes, David knew if he wanted to see his grandchild grow up he needed to take action.
Three of his siblings were type two diabetic and on medication, and his mum sadly passed away after suffering a stroke and due to the long-term complications from diabetes.
Having lost weight with WW (previously Weight Watchers), David decided to re-join with his sister Anita in 2014.
“I worked in garages most my life and would describe my food choices before WW as typical ‘garage life’,” he said.
“My food quite often would be full English for breakfast, double pie and chips for lunch and a massive home-cooked meal in the evening.
“I’d get home from work and the car would be littered with chocolate wrappers that I had no recollection of eating.
“Now as a sales rep for a tyre wholesaler, I have to plan my days out on the road so its cereal or omelettes for breakfast and my wife cooks a healthy meal in the evening, keeping the portion sizes in check.
“Eating healthily gave me a different mindset about fitness too. I’ve never been one for exercise but decided that I could walk every evening. When I started it was such a challenge but as time went on I loved how I was getting faster and fitter. I love the feeling of freedom and well-being that it gives me. It’s such a buzz.
“It’s taken some time for me to lose weight but the benefits are worth it. I’m now an active grandfather with two grandsons and can spend quality time running around after them.
“I now love life. I plan holidays, feel fitter and healthier and am grateful for the time I’ve got to spend with my family and friends.”
Now, four years later, he’s lost an impressive six stone – dropping from 23 stone to just over 17.
“You have a realisation, when you’ve become ill from something that is self-inflicted, that you’ve only got one shot at life,” he said.
“You can’t underestimate the benefits of healthy eating and moving more in helping to keep diabetes at bay.
“It’s a terrible illness that can have such a catastrophic effect on your health and even cause you to lose your life.
“I still have more weight to lose but now my blood pressure is normal and my sugar levels aren’t high. My sister Anita has also been told that she is no longer pre-diabetic. With my family history, this makes me really proud of what I have achieved.
“I know that with the support of my wife and family, I will carry on and reach my wellness goals. I’ll still be checking in with her when I’m 90. I intend to do everything I can to stay around a little longer.
“It’s all about the healthy lifestyle for me and being there to see my grandchildren grow up.
“By losing six stone, I’m giving myself a chance.”