Embracing the challenge
BY the time I heeded the concerns of my family and friends my weight had grown steadily over 10 years until I was morbidly obese, tipping the scales at more than 33 stone.
My health concerns were becoming more apparent and my diet and lifestyle choices were bordering on life-threatening.
The fear of subjecting my mother and the rest of my family to having to attend my funerals, at the age of just 54, was in danger of becoming a stark reality for me and I was really scared.
The very thought of joining a weightloss group felt impossible and filled me with dread. I thought I would never lose weight anyway.
But when I joined Slimming World in Bedhampton in February 2017, the consultant and members made me feel very welcome.
There was no judgement or humiliation and in the first week I lost 11.5lbs.
My food choices changed dramatically and I discovered a passion for cooking healthy homemade meals. Gone were convenience foods – pies, crisps, bread and takeaways.
And I can still enjoy English breakfasts, steak and chips, and a Sunday roast, as well as family favourites, chicken tikka masala, pasta bolognese, sausage casserole and even gammon, egg and chips.
I have now lost almost 17 stone and I feel amazing.
In fact, I am now half the man I used to be.
Having embraced the weight-loss challenge, I feel that I am now the person I always wanted to be.
I’m heading into a new career, helping, advising, supporting and motivating my own group of members, with the aspiration of guiding these members to achieve their own meaningful and lifechanging weight loss journey.
Instead of simply existing, I’m now living life to the full.
Martin has now become a Slimming World consultant. His group is held on Saturday mornings from 8.30am until 10am at the Stride Centre, Daffodil Way, Denvilles, Havant.