A Lanarkshire man has revealed the secrets of his success after losing 19 stone.
After years of feeling uncomfortable in his own body and ashamed of his size, Carluke man Paul Walker, who weighed more than 39 stone, decided to join his local Slimming World group.
And that decision has seen him turn his life around for the better.
Paul told Lanarkshire Live : “Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
"I was embarrassed about my size and scared that I might be the biggest person there.
“I needn’t have worried though, everyone there was so friendly, especially my consultant, Angela Harris. I was so relieved when I found out that my weight was confidential – I’d had visions of having to tell everyone how much I weighed.
“Making that commitment to join the group and start my weight loss journey was a huge step for me – the group gave me the confidence and the push I needed.
“Since then I’ve made so many friends at the group and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without their support each week.
“They helped me with recipes and tips and if I was ever struggling they were always there to remind me why I’d wanted to lose weight in the first place and how far I’d come since first stepping through the doors.”
The real difference to Paul came in the realisation that, with the help of the group and consultant, he’d found all the expertise and support he’d need to change bad habits he’d developed over his lifetime.
And that allowed him to make real, sustainable changes and discover a whole new way of life.
In March 2020, the pandemic meant Paul could no longer meet up with his much-loved Slimming World group in person – factors that could easily have triggered old habits and risked undoing all the wonderful changes Paul had worked so hard to sustain.
“It was an awful feeling” Paul added.
"My confidence took a knock. I had felt so strong in the new, healthy routine I’d created – a routine that would now have to adapt and change”
Much to Paul’s delight, he quickly discovered two hugely important things.
Firstly, the practical changes and personal skills he’d developed over the past year would give him the confidence and strength of mind to persevere on his weight loss journey.
Secondly, the weekly group sessions continued in the virtual world meaning Paul could continue to be enveloped in a world of friendship and support.
That allowed him to keep his weight loss dreams on track and feel strong, no matter what was going on in the world around him.
Paul’s weight loss continued and in 2021, having shed 16 stone, he received an award from the company as one of their greatest losers that year.
Since then, Paul has continued to fight the fat and has lost a further three stone - that's an incredible 19 stone in total.
He added: “Nothing fazes me anymore.
"I know that I can achieve anything I set my mind to and, more importantly, that I have an army of cheerleaders to be right by my side when I need them.”
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