A chapel minister who’s health was in danger because of his weight has had his life saved by a TV show. The Rev Dylan Parry, who lives in Bridgend was one of the stars of FFIT Cymru, on S4C.
According to the 34-year-old, he had never known a time when he had been healthy and had been diagnosed with sleep apnoea. This is where your breathing stops and starts in your sleep, and can often be caused by obesity.
Dylan, who is the mister for chapels in Bridgend and Porthcawl tipped the scales at 26 stone but has now started adopting healthier habit with a new eating and fitness regime. He admitted at the start of the series that he had an unhealthy relationship with food and hated to look at himself in the mirror.
After seven weeks of advice and support, Dylan has lost more than three stone in weight and now has a more positive mindset. The fridge at his home has also seen a makeover and no longer stores chocolate eclairs and sugary energy drinks.
And the local communities in Bridgend and Porthcawl have also been a key element in his journey, with the members at the churches he looks after showing as much support as they could, and join in his fitness regime. He said: “Meeting members socially after services or in their homes is a big part of the work.
“They no longer offer me biscuits and such like and we have started a Wednesday evening walk. We have started a conversation where there hadn't been a conversation previously.”
Reflecting on how far he has come, Dylan added: “Without a doubt FFIT Cymru has saved my life. If I had carried on as I was before there was no future for me.
"I have thanked everyone who has helped and supported me in the past few weeks. They have brought me back from the edge and their hard work has given me the tools to carry on and change the course of my life.
"I feel great, it's a nice feeling. Before I would avoid looking at myself in the mirror but I've spent hours doing just that now. I'm so happy in myself, a hundred times better than I was at the start of this journey.
"I have formed a new relationship with food and have come to a new place with fitness too. Then there's your mental health, I couldn't thank the experts enough for the tools I needed to do this."
During the series Dylan underwent tests for diabetes and was surprised when they proved negative, noting: "The test showed my blood-sugar levels were well within the normal range. I didn't expect that and I put that down to FFIT Cymru.”
In addition to the weight loss the FFIT Cymru experts found his visceral fat levels - also known as “hidden fat” that is stored deep inside the body and wrapped around organs including the liver and intestines had also been reduced by 13%. Personal trainer Rae Carpenter said: "This has been reduced in just seven weeks, just think what you can achieve in the next six months and beyond.
Meanwhile, psychologist Dr Ioan Rees said Dylan's initial psychological score, measured just before the series started, stood at 44%. He said: "The same test now shows a score of 87% showing the effect of food and fitness on the brain in such a short time.”
The other experts on FFIT Cymru are dietician Beca Lyne-Pirkis and new to the team this year, former Love Island contestant and online motivator Connagh Howard. Both were equally congratulatory of Dylan's efforts and achievements during the series.
And Dylan's parents, Edwina and Dick have also been delighted with his efforts. Dick said: "He's a completely different boy, we're with him all the way."
With a quarter of the Welsh population believed to be overweight, taking care of health is more important than ever. Over eight episodes in April and May the FFIT Cymru series shared ideas with the nation with the five leaders transforming their health by following bespoke fitness and food plans set by the programme's four experts.
Dylan was joined in the series by Matthew Rees, 46, butcher from Carmarthen; Andrea Davies-Tuthill, a hospital theatre nurse from Merthyr Tydfil; Linette Gwilym, 33, a social worker from Llanrug near Caernarfon, and Kelly O'Donnell, a teaching assistant from Bethel near Caernarfon. Series producer Siwan Haf said: "We are thrilled that all our leaders have made such fantastic progress in getting their health back on track.
“We’ll meet up with them again in six months time. The aim now is for them to continue with their new, healthier lifestyles so that they can continue to make become even healthier.
“I also want to pay tribute to Lisa Gwilym and our experts who have guided and inspired them every step of the way on this journey.”
FFIT Cymru is able to offer support to everyone and viewers can take part at home too by following the special food and fitness plans online on the FFIT Cymru website, www.s4c.cymru/ffitcymru, and on social media @ffitcymru for free.
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