A determined dad has dropped four and a half stone after declaring: “Fat’s not the life for me.”
Overweight Christopher Matthews was fed-up and quite embarrassed about his size.
The 38-year-old has turned his life around to such an extent that he has set up a Slimming World class in Paisley.
And Christopher revealed: “My problem was I thought I lived a fast-paced life and always ate on the go because it was convenient and thought I never had time for a cooked meal.
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“My best friend was the Just Eat app or a petrol station meal deal which always contained a can 500ml of full fat energy drink.”
The dad-of-two used to be a chef so he knew all about food.
He managed to lose his weight in just 18 weeks, adding plenty of veg to his plates and no more fizzy drinks laden with sugar.
His waist size dropped from a 38 inch to just 30 inch as his bulk plunged from 17st 2lbs to just 12st 8lbs.
The all-new slimmed down version of Christopher will be relaunching the Slimming World class at Wallneuk North Church in Abercorn Street.
It will take place every Wednesday at 9.30am.
It was in October that he found his love for cooking again after packing on the pounds during Covid-19.
He spotted a photo of himself that stirred him into action.
Christopher said: “I was a chef in my early working years and gave up when my first daughter was born due to the unsocial hours.
“So during lockdown I was home more often and started to cook more in the house for myself and my two daughters.
“I started to get my passion for cooking back and realised that I could use this to my advantage and slim down.
“I always knew about my local slimming world group but I felt embarrassed to reach out and join.
“My pride got in the way and I honestly believed that Slimming World was only for ladies.
“I was wrong.
“It’s for everyone and everyone is always welcome.”
He is now friends with some of that class and has now decided to start his own.
Christopher added: “When I was asked at the group “what was your motivation” I would say my beautiful daughters.
“I was overweight and my BMI was in the danger zone and I knew I wanted to be healthy to watch them grow.
“Slimming World has changed my life for the better and if I can motivate one person to start their journey then I would be happy.
“Some weeks can be hard and life can get in the way but I have made the commitment that whenever you have an off plan day with food, simply get back on plan the next day.
“I often here the cliché ‘diet starts on a Monday’ but why wait?”
