Kevin Rayner from Barnsley in South Yorkshire lost a staggering 10 stones to enjoy a new active family life and open his own Slimming World group! Kevin shares his story here…
“I’d always been on the large side, but it was when I left home, moved into my own flat and got a job in a bakery that the weight really went on. I hardly ever cooked, so dinner was pie and chips with bread and butter, followed by a couple of pints in the local pub or at the snooker hall.
“As the years went by and my weight got higher I realised I might feel more energetic (and attractive to women!) if I lost weight, so I joined my local Slimming World group. I lost loads of weight but then promptly left. Without the group to boost my motivation I went back to my old eating habits and put all the weight back on again.
“The following year, I met my wife, Shelley, who didn’t seem to mind how much I weighed, and we were soon so happy together that all thoughts of weight loss disappeared. Life became uncomfortable as I got bigger – just bending over made my back and legs ache terribly. If I tried to do anything energetic, like kick a football around with our son Josh, I was puffing after a couple of minutes. In fact, I was exhausted all day long.
“It all came to a head one day at a theme park. Shelley and I had treated ourselves to a day out at Alton Towers and queued for ages to try the scariest ride. But when at last it was time to ease my large frame into the seat, disaster struck. No matter how much I breathed in, the safety bar wouldn’t fit over my stomach, and I had to get off. I tried to make light of it but, inside, as I slowly made my way out of the ride, past all the waiting people, I was so deeply ashamed and humiliated that I just wanted the ground to swallow me up.
Not long after that I joined Slimming World again. I was worried at first that I’d be ‘told off’ for putting the weight back on that I’d lost. Of course, all my Consultant Lesley had to offer was encouragement.
I went home, planned my week’s menu, and hit the supermarket, buying lots of pasta, lean meat, fruit and vegetables. Shelley was 100% supportive of my efforts too – she’d never said anything before but I knew she’d been worried about my health for a long time.
“In my first week I was delighted with a 7lbs loss, and two weeks after that I’d lost my first stone. I filled up on lots of Free Food like jacket potato and beans, fruit or fat free yogurt. I used my Syns on beer – it was brilliant to be able to enjoy a pint without fearing it would affect my weight loss!
“Nearly 7 stones lighter I decided to get a bit more active. I began to walk to work and ride my bike on short journeys. One Christmas morning I looked at myself in the mirror. My huge tummy and bloated face had disappeared for good, and staring back at me was a better-looking, better-dressed happier man who looked… just the right size. So I decided that - at exactly 10 stones lighter – I had reached my target.
“To celebrate reaching target, I opened my first Slimming World group, in Elsecar. Obviously I hope that plenty of men will be inspired to come to my group, but I’m here for everyone. I’ve got over 50 members and I love it – I just want to help other people feel as good as I do. I’m confident, energetic, healthier and – so Shelley tells me – much sexier…
"I feel like a better dad too. Seeing me eat lots of fruit and vegetables can’t be doing Josh any harm, and he’s learning to make healthy food choices, too – even if he has inherited my love for chips. At least these days they’re Slimming World ones!”