Ian Graham, a 39-year-old from Gateshead who weighed almost 34st, has lost nine-and-a-half stone after a doctor warned him he might not see his 40th birthday. He is now preparing to take on the Great North Run next year.
A wake-up call at the doctor's surgery
In June this year, Ian said he had a wake-up call following a doctor's appointment. He claims that during the appointment he was told that if he didn't make a change he "won't see 40 years old".
"That really scared me," said Ian. "The thought of leaving my kids behind absolutely broke my heart. I had visions of them just crying and asking for me everyday."
Suddenly, Ian said he stopped being "in denial" about his weight and stopped putting food first.
From 33st 10lbs to 24st 4lbs
Now he has lost a whopping nine-and-a-half-stone, from 33st 10lbs to 24st 4lbs, slimming from a size 7XL - 8XL down to 3XL - 4XL. He has also shed a huge 18 inches off his waist, from 66 inches down to 48.
Ian, who has worked as a Security Supervisor for 17 years, said: "I was classed as morbidly obese. I struggled to get into standard size cars."
He added: "I went for an interview to drive buses and one of the questions the interviewer asked was, 'Do you drive a car without difficulty as I don't think you would fit in the bus?' That absolutely devastated me that someone I didn't know was saying that without even giving me the opportunity to try."
Transforming diet and lifestyle
Ian said his family have been his biggest supporters as he has worked to completely transform his lifestyle, which he has achieved through healthy eating and exercise. He said that before his weight loss journey he would eat chocolate, takeaways, pizzas and crisps "most nights if not every night".
Now Ian has switched his diet of regular pizzas, kebabs, Chinese food, and chocolate to fresh foods such as chicken salads, salmon with veg and boiled or poached eggs. "I don't eat nothing deep fried or in grease," said Ian.
"I also have very minimal sugar intake and drink a lot of water with protein," he added. As well as changing his diet, Ian has also created a more active lifestyle and goes to the gym five days a week, which he now looks forward to. He has also taken up cycling, swimming and running "for the first time in 25 years".
Playing football with his kids again
But one of the most sentimental achievements is that he is now able to play football with his kids, explaining: "I never ever thought this would happen." He said: "I have finally got the life I should have had but was too in denial to see the issue."
Ian added: "I feel like a whole new person. I have so much energy now playing football with my kids and interacting with them like I could never before as was too embarrassed or would have major anxiety. Now I walk around thinking I'm this new person and nobody is going to spoil that for me."
Ian is aiming to lose 15st overall and is preparing to take part in next year's Great North Run. He said: "I have lost 9.5st and my target weight is 15st. My biggest achievement will be running the Great North Run 2027 for Macmillan Cancer for my partner's mum Roseanne and my beloved nanna Maureen."
