Geoff Stockley, a bus driver from Poole, Dorset, whose weight reached 24st due to daily bacon rolls and pasties, has shed 9st after a blood pressure scare. Now 39, he has signed up for the Marathon des Sables 2027, a six-day ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert.
Weight gain from convenience foods
Geoff was always larger than friends growing up, and his weight increased further when he became a bus driver, due to long, sedentary shifts. He regularly ate pastries, baguettes, fish and chips, foot-long Subways, and KFC during lunch breaks, conveniently located at the bus station. His weight ballooned to 24st, forcing him to order XXXL shirts online because such sizes were rarely in stores.
Despite trying diets, he never stuck to them, thinking he was young and would be fine. However, a doctor's appointment for an unrelated issue revealed very high blood pressure, making him realize the seriousness of his weight problem.
Turning point and transformation
Geoff started a Couch to 5k plan and educated himself on healthy nutrition, aiming to eat foods that would keep him full during long shifts without relying on convenience options. Within about two years, he lost a third of his body weight, dropping from over 24st to 15st 10lbs, and swapped XXXL shirts for a large. His blood pressure improved, and he began strength training.
He said: "I never prioritised being active and I was always overweight. I've been a bus driver 18 years - there's easy access to bad food at the station, and the weight kept coming on without me realising."
He added: "So when the doctor flagged high blood pressure at a younger age than I expected, it was a bit of an eye opener. I think I'd been aware I should live a healthier life, but I didn't realise how significant that was until then."
New lifestyle and future goals
Geoff completed his weight loss in early 2025 and has maintained it by joining a strength training gym and continuing running. He said: "It has led to me feeling a lot more confident in myself and a lot more aware of the choices I make."
He is now raising money for the Marathon des Sables 2027, which will likely cost around £5,000 including travel and supplies. He said: "I want to show my family that something which doesn't feel possible, is possible if you work at it."
His diet before included bacon baguettes, foot-long Subways, large Dominos, and full-sugar Monster drinks. After, he eats scrambled eggs, cooked chicken, fruit, chicken fajitas with vegetables, and snacks like fruit, Greek yogurt, protein powder, and chia seeds, drinking water, black coffee, and sugar-free Monster.
