A little over two years ago Stuart Howells went to beg his GP to refer him for weight loss surgery after trying a number of restrictive diets and a prescription obesity drug without success. He was so overweight he had to be hooked up to a machine as weight-induced sleep apnoea1 meant he was unable to breathe on his own at night.
By late 2007 Stuart had given up the job he loved as a family support worker for children with learning disabilities because he felt that he couldn’t move quickly enough to keep the youngsters safe from harm.
Now, the dad of four from Llanelli in South Wales, who has lost more than 12st since joining Slimming World in January 2008, has found a new lease of life – and he’s got his old job back. After joining his local group he’s completely changed his eating habits and starts every day with a 10km run. He also cycles 25 miles regularly and swims as often as possible.
“I was feeling so low about my weight and the effect that it was having on my life that I began to have suicidal thoughts. I was desperate and went to see my GP to plead to be referred for surgery. I’d already had to give up my job and I was worried about the effect my weight was having on my health. As a dad of four I was worried about my children and leaving them behind if I died. I felt like a coward and failure,” says Stuart.
“Luckily though, when I went to my doctor’s surgery I saw the nurse for my blood pressure. She told me about Slimming World and invited me to come along to group. It was the moment that changed my life.”
He resolved to go along to the local Llanelli group the next Monday morning but on reaching the door he nearly turned around and left. “I couldn’t do it. I felt embarrassed, ashamed. I’m a teetotaller and yet I found myself in the pub nursing a pint on a Monday morning to try to gather the courage to go in and join,” he says.
“I gave myself a good talking to and, when I did take that step through the door, I found a wonderful group atmosphere. Now I take my inspiration from new members. We share experience and ideas and support each other on our weight loss journeys. I know how I felt when I started and how difficult that first step is but it’s the best step I’ve ever taken and I really didn’t have anything to fear.”
Stuart lost 8lbs in his first week following Slimming World’s Food Optimising* plan, eating foods that filled him up but were low in energy density. “I couldn’t believe I could have things like chilli con carne and chips (chipped potatoes par-boiled, sprayed with low calorie spray oil and baked in the oven until crisp and brown), eggs and beans.”
As the pounds dropped off, Stuart began to regain his confidence and self-esteem and, after losing 6st, he returned to his job as family support worker. Now, having discovered a love for cooking, he’s passing his new-found knowledge on to the children. Weekly shopping and cooking sessions help to prepare the youngsters for independent living and, firmly believing that a healthy lifestyle starts with a healthy shopping basket, Stuart encourages them to buy low fat sausages, prepare vegetables and cook healthily. Far from being unable to keep up with the children and ensure their safety, Stuart now helps out at their football training sessions too.
“My self respect and confidence are now sky high,” says Stuart. “I feel I can overcome any problem life throws at me. Before I lost weight there was so much I wanted to do and couldn’t. I wanted to run, but I had a weak ankle and I would fall down in agony if I did too much. I wanted to go on rides at the theme park, but I couldn’t fasten the seatbelt or pull down the shoulder restraint so I had to get off. I felt so humiliated. I wanted to fly without having to get a seatbelt extension, go to the cinema without having to sit in an aisle seat.
“Now I have a life. I can cycle, play football. No activity is off limits. I completed my first ever half-marathon in March this year and finished ahead of many experienced club runners and best of all, ahead of a group of soldiers from the Welsh Guards. My motto for life now is: Imagine. Believe. Achieve. IBA. Anything is possible. ”
STUART’S VITAL STATISTICS
Starting weight: 24st 4½lb (155kg)
Weight loss: 12st 5lb (79kg)
Weight now: 11st 13½lb (76kg)
Height: 5’ 8½” (1.74m)
Joining date: 7/1/08
Age: 43
Diet Before: Stuart lived on takeaways and “junk food”. He loved doner kebabs and ate everything from pizza to Chinese, Indian, Italian and microwave meals and curries made with sauces from a jar. He loved full fat mature cheddar cheese, cream, dips and crisps, sugar-coated breakfast cereals and “anything unhealthy”.
Diet Now: Stuart has a huge appetite and enjoys three meals a day. He loves to cook and try out new recipes. In a typical day he might eat:
Breakfast: Weetabix, fruit and yogurt.
Lunch: Chips (chipped potatoes parboiled, sprayed with low calorie cooking spray and baked in the oven), eggs and beans
Dinner: Chilli con carne made with extra lean mince with rice or more Slimming World style chips and piles of salad. If eating out, Stuart will enjoy a huge lean steak with baked potatoes and vegetables or salad.
Snacks: Unlimited fruit, fat free yogurts and salads.
For further information please contact the PR team on 01773 546037, 01773 546039 or 01773 546146 or email: public.relations@slimming-world.com
A video interview with Stuart is available at: http://www.slimmingworld.com/moty10/
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Notes to Editors
· Slimming World’s Man of the Year title is open to men who are members of Slimming World groups across the UK. Contestants are members who have lost at least 5 stone, and have been chosen by fellow group members to represent the group at national finals. 63 men attended finals at Slimming World Head Office in Derbyshire.
· 1 Sleep apnoea: Obstructive sleep apnoea symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired concentration, choking episodes during sleep, irritability and personality change. Obesity is one of the main recognised factors linked with sleep apnoea and weight loss is encouraged part of the treatment process. Those who suffer severe sleep apnoea may need assistance with breathing through a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine.
· Slimming World is the largest and most advanced slimming organisation in the UK. Margaret Miles-Bramwell (FRSA, OBE) founded the company in 1969 and there are now more than 6,700 groups held weekly nationwide via a network of 2,700 Slimming World trained Consultants.
· 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 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. As well as food, slimmers get support to become more active and to identify emotional and psychological triggers and to find ways to build their self-esteem and confidence to succeed.
· *Latest nutrition research shows that satiety is the secret to achieving sustainable weight loss. This is the science behind Food Optimising which allows members to choose from hundreds of foods which can be eaten in unlimited amounts. Satiating foods are those that fill you up the most and keep you fullest for longest while also being low in calories. They tend to be foods that are high in complex carbohydrates or proteins, high in fibre, high in volume, high in moisture content and low in energy density. Slimming World’s ‘Free Foods’ include most fruit and veg, lean meat and poultry, fish, potatoes, rice and pasta, very low fat dairy products and eggs. Members fill up on Free Foods so they never go hungry and, because there’s always something to choose to eat, slimmers never feel guilty or deprived
· 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.
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