Mark Redshaw, a 61-year-old retired Electrical Wholesale Manager and grandad-of-three from Gateshead, has transformed his life after losing 3st 11lb. He initially weighed 19st 12lb and now weighs 16st 1lb, shedding eight inches off his waist from 50 to 42 inches.
Withdrawal from Social Life
Redshaw said: "I felt so bad about how I looked. I hated going out and meeting people, especially new people. I became very depressed and my mental health was so bad I withdrew from the outside world and made excuses to family and friends not to take part in any socialising."
He struggled to sleep, had no energy, and was eventually diagnosed with sleep apnea, requiring a mask at night. "I was sleeping poorly and very grumpy. I hated myself and what I looked like," he added. He also experienced back and hip pain, and was told he needed two hip replacements but the hospital would not operate until his weight and BMI were lower. Doctors warned he would "very likely" become Type 2 diabetic if he continued his current lifestyle.
Diet Transformation
Redshaw joined Slimming World and overhauled his diet. Previously, he ate fast food for breakfast most days, a sandwich with crisps and chocolate for lunch, and freezer meals or takeaways for dinner, plus three to four packs of crisps and a large chocolate bar daily, with ice cream on weekends.
Now he enjoys overnight oats with fat-free Greek yogurt and berries for breakfast, or a Slimming World fry-up on weekends (wholemeal toast, bacon with fat removed, eggs fried with Frylight, sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, baked beans). Lunch is pasta with tuna, chicken, or crab sticks and salad, while dinner varies including steak with potatoes and vegetables or chicken stir fry with rice. Weekends feature fakeaways like homemade kebab with Slimming World chips and salad or chicken tikka masala with rice.
Health Improvements
Redshaw said: "My BMI and weight has dropped enough for me not to be at risk of type 2 diabetes and I am at a weight that the doctor has said they can operate on my hips." He no longer requires a sleep apnea mask: "I sleep so soundly and wake up refreshed and feeling good every day. My mental health is great and I no longer feel depressed or feel worthless."
He added: "I love gardening and I'm always doing something in the garden without feeling tired. I love the fact that I have the energy to go out and socialise with my family and friends and do things with my grandchildren. I haven't been swimming in a public pool since 2018 but the way I feel about myself and how I look I have started swimming with my wife once a week."
