West Norfolk man unrecognisable from what he was as more than 10 stone shed
A Dersingham grandfather, who used to struggle climbing the stairs, has completely transformed his life and appearance after losing 10 stone 5lbs since 2014.
Before undergoing his Slimming World journey Ian Garrod, 67, weighed 23st 3lb and was diagnosed as pre-diabetic with medication for high blood pressure.
"I was so heavy in fact that I was too heavy for our bathroom scales at home," he said. "Carrying this weight had a big impact on my health."
Mr Garrod is now a clean bill of health and all medication has stopped since he has changed his diet and lost nearly half his body weight. This process started in June 2014, and he has maintained his weight loss since getting to target in May 2018
He added: "My lifestyle and mobility has greatly improved. I now enjoy walking and cycling. We walk every morning with our dog distances from three to five miles, also cycling around 14 miles.
"This may seem a small thing but rather than struggling up the stairs at home as I did before, I now run up the stairs and am able to hold a normal conversation once I get to the top."
Being able to go into normal clothes shops rather than having to shop online or at specialised shops has also been a boost for Mr Garrod who now buys 36in waist rather than 56in. His shirts are also medium now rather than 4XL.
He recalls being invited back to the parishes where he used to live with his retired vicar wife. Mr Garrod was unrecognisable to many he had not seen for years.
"Some people there didn’t give me the normal welcome with hugs etc. and this was strange I thought," he continued. "It turned out that they didn’t recognise me. In fact some thought that my wife had a new man in her life! Well...I suppose I am nearly half the man I was!"
His friends and family have been very supportive of Mr Garrod with several joining Slimming World themselves after being impressed by his loss.
On the foods he now eats, Mr Garrod said: "I still enjoy cooking and the food that I eat. English breakfast, steak and chips, and curries are all on the menu and we do still eat out.
"One of the favourite pubs that we visit know me as the Slimming World man and are always willing to accommodate my food choices."
Statistic from the Office of National Statistics show 25 per cent of those who died because of Covid-19 were people who had diabetes, with type 2 diabetes being a condition commonly linked with obesity.
The annual spend on the treatment of obesity and diabetes is greater than the amount spent on the police, the fire service and the judicial system combined. The overall cost of obesity to wider society is estimated at £27 billion.
