A father of four has undergone a dramatic physical and mental transformation after losing an incredible seven stone in just over a year, revealing he no longer obsesses over food.
The Turning Point for a Busy Dad
Lewis Bowes, a 35-year-old foundry worker from Todmorden, West Yorkshire, had struggled with his weight for most of his life. Juggling a hectic family life with four children and night shift work meant his own health often took a back seat. His daily habits saw him consuming up to 4,000 calories, far exceeding the NHS recommended guideline of 2,500 for a man. Regular large wraps with chips and constant snacking on bags of crisps were the norm. During night shifts, frequent trips to the vending machine for chocolate and crisps became a costly routine, amounting to nearly £100 a month.
"I was spending £20 a week at a vending machine, so I ended up disabling Apple Pay on my phone to stop it," Lewis admitted. The moment of reckoning came when he stepped on the scales and saw he had reached 20 stone and 6 pounds. He decided then that enough was enough.
A New Approach: Medication and Mindset
In November 2024, after seeing positive stories on social media platform TikTok, Lewis decided to try the prescription medication Mounjaro. Starting on a 2.5mg dose before moving up to 7.5mg for a 12-week period, he quickly noticed a profound change in his relationship with food.
"It's difficult to describe, but Mounjaro puts food thoughts to the back of your brain," Lewis explained. "You're always considerate of when you're going to eat, but I just don't even think of that anymore." This mental shift was pivotal. He complemented the treatment with simple but effective lifestyle changes, swapping out unhealthy snacks for apples, protein shakes, and healthier chicken wraps. He also focused on increasing his daily step count.
Sustaining the Transformation
The results were staggering. In just over a year, Lewis shed 7 stone and 12 pounds, bringing his weight down to a healthy 12 stone and 8 pounds. With the weight loss achieved, he then turned his attention to fitness, beginning regular running in April 2025 after initially increasing his daily walks.
Now, Lewis is working on tapering off the Mounjaro, taking half doses as he doesn't wish to rely on it indefinitely. "I'm still finding that now it's completely ingrained and I don't think about food anymore really," he said. His focus has shifted to training and a deeper understanding of nutrition, and he is content maintaining his weight between 12 and 14 stone.
The transformation has had practical benefits too, with family takeaways now costing £25 instead of £40. For Lewis, the journey was about a complete lifestyle overhaul. "If I was going to lose weight, I wanted to lose a lot, otherwise there was no point," he stated, proving that with the right support and determination, significant change is possible even within a demanding family life.
