A father who secretly ate family-sized bags of crisps at a bus stop to hide his binges from his wife has transformed his life, shedding an impressive 4 stone 7lbs without using weight loss injections.
The Turning Point at a Bus Stop
At his heaviest, Alex Lambert-Lea, 31 from Plymouth, Devon, weighed 15 stone 10 lbs and wore size 2XL clothing. Stress from work and exhaustion at home led him to turn to food for comfort, grazing constantly on crisps, sweets, and chunks of cheese.
His habit reached a critical point in April 2025. After buying a large haul of snacks, Alex found himself sitting at a bus stop, hurriedly eating everything to dispose of the evidence before his wife, Cassie, 34, could see. "I realised 'I am trying to keep this hidden'," he said. "That was the moment of 'what am I doing?'"
Joining Slimming World and Changing Habits
Following that secret binge, Alex confessed to his wife, a headteacher who had been attending Slimming World for years. She persuaded him to join the group with her in April 2025.
Alex radically changed his diet, swapping takeaways and freezer food like chicken nuggets for homemade batch-cooked curries and vegetable pasta. He emphasised that he didn't cut foods out entirely but learned control. "I was an absolute sucker for a cheese toastie... I don't have to cut any of that out completely – it's just tempering that a bit," he explained.
A New Life as an Energetic Dad and Runner
The results were dramatic. Alex's weight dropped to 11 stone 3lbs, and he now fits into a medium size. The weight loss reignited his passion for running, allowing him to complete a half-marathon in Cornwall in October 2025 and now train for the London Marathon.
Most importantly, he has become a more active father to his two daughters, aged four and nine. "I'm not running out of breath chasing after them," Alex said. "The food used to control me, now I control it. I'm happier in myself, more confident."
Alex's previous diet included:
- Breakfast: Cereal and four or five slices of thickly buttered toast with spreads.
- Lunch: Multiple toasties, crisps, chocolate, and sweets.
- Dinner: Freezer food or a Chinese takeaway.
- Snacks: Crisps, sweets, and cheese.
Alex's current diet includes:
- Breakfast: Two Weetabix.
- Lunch: Pasta with vegetables.
- Dinner: Homemade batch curry.
- Snacks: Fruit, mini Oreos, and pop chips.
