Super slimmer Roberto Enrieu has proved he’s a man that can conquer mountains and now he wants to show he’s a marathon man too.
Coventry dad-of-two Roberto, who has lost more than 25st and won two national slimming titles, will be representing weight loss organisation Slimming World when he runs the 30th annual Virgin London Marathon on April 25th to raise money for the NSPCC.
Roberto was overweight for most of his life and by the time he turned 40 he weighed more than 40st, with his weight even landing him in hospital at one point. When his employer suggested he try slimming in May 2006, Roberto decided to do something about his weight once and for all and asked his friend if he could join her at her weekly Slimming World group in Whitley.
Since then Roberto (6ft 4in) has dropped from 41st 8½lb to 16st 8½lb by following the club’s healthy eating plan, which encourages members to fill up on satisfying foods that keep you fuller for longer like pasta, rice, potatoes, fruit and veg, lean meat, fish and poultry. He also discovered a love of exercise and now swims, attends a gym, cycles, climbs, kayaks and canoes – a far cry from the days when just walking left him in pain and out of breath. In fact, Roberto has now trained as a kayak instructor and completed the Three Peaks Challenge, scaling Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon in just 24 hours.
Roberto says: “My decision to join Slimming World came in the nick of time, because as I slimmed down my doctor discovered a heart problem that had been masked by my weight. Had I not lost weight I could have been dead within a few years. But instead, I’ve got a new lease of life - I’m fit and healthy and have a wonderful family, a great job and lots of very active hobbies.”
As well as transforming his life Roberto’s amazing weight loss saw him named Slimming World’s Greatest Loser 2008, a prize for the Slimming World member who’s lost the most weight across all groups, and Slimming World’s Man of the Year 2009.
Now he’s continuing his role as a Slimming World ambassador as one of just five people who have been chosen to represent the organisation in the 30th annual Virgin London Marathon on April 25th. The group, who have lost a combined total of more than 35st, will raise money for the slimming club’s charity SMILES (Slimmers Making It a Littler Easier for Someone). SMILES’ charity partner for 2010 is the NSPCC.
Roberto says: “Slimming World has more than 300,000 members nationwide so I feel very honoured to be one of just five people who have been picked to represent them. Slimming World’s given me amazing support during my weight loss journey so it’s great to be able to give something back and raise money for SMILES, especially because the NSPCC is such a good cause.”
Slimming World Consultant Jane Smith, who runs the Whitley Slimming World group that Roberto attends, says: “Losing 25st has truly been life changing for Roberto and everyone in the group is so proud of him. He’s a real inspiration, proving to new members that anything is possible and supporting everyone every week. Now it’s our turn to support him and we can’t wait to cheer him on in the London marathon.”
Also in Slimming World’s marathon team are Slimming World Consultant Julia Males from Kent who shed 2st; Slimming World members Liz Ferris, from Essex, and Ailsa Park, from Norton near Sheffield, who both lost around 2st; and Paul Siddall, who has lost 4st and works at Slimming World’s head office.
If Roberto’s story has inspired you and you’d like to support the team you can pledge sponsorship to the team by visiting www.justgiving.com/slimmingworldmarathonteam2010
Find out more about Slimming World at www.slimmingworld.com – Ends –
For further information please contact the Slimming World press office on 01773 546039 or email: public.relations@slimming-world.com
Notes to Editors
· Slimming World is the largest and most advanced slimming organisation in the UK. Margaret Miles-Bramwell (OBE, FRSA) founded the company in 1969 and there are now 6,500 groups held weekly nationwide via a network of 2,700 Slimming World trained Consultants.
· 300,000 members attend Slimming World every week and achieve outstanding success.
· Members lose 17,857 stones every week: 2,551 stones every day, over 106 stones every hour, that’s 1 stone 10 lbs lost every minute of every day with Slimming World.
· Slimming World pioneered referral schemes in the UK and actively supports the building of partnerships with the NHS and local authorities to develop effective strategies to manage overweight and obesity in the community. Slimming World works with university researchers and specialists in an active research programme to further knowledge of the causes and treatment of obesity.
· Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, and the principles behind Slimming World’s philosophy are based on a deep understanding of the challenges faced by overweight people. Slimming World integrates practical, up-to-date dietary advice with a highly developed support system.
· Slimming World Consultants receive specific training in dietary aspects and the role of physical activity in weight control. The highly developed training focuses on facilitating behaviour change in a group environment, acknowledged by experts as being the most effective way to support long-term weight management.
· In 2009 Slimming World celebrated its 40th Anniversary and four decades of helping people to lose weight without deprivation, guilt or hunger.
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