A father-of-two from Manchester who was once too heavy for specialist bathroom scales has revealed how he lost a staggering 15 stone without resorting to weight loss injections or surgery.
The Wake-Up Call That Sparked Change
Josiah Ojofeitimi, now 31, saw his weight spiral to around 35 stone, forcing him to wear XXXXL clothing often ordered from the USA. His pivotal moment came after a short, late-night walk to buy snacks left him in severe back pain, sweating and gasping for breath. "I looked in the mirror and said out loud ‘what’s up with my back?’" Josiah recalled. "I saw my reflection and realised obviously that’s what it was."
Determined to know his weight, he ordered heavy-duty scales with a 33-stone capacity, only for them to flash an ‘error’ message when he stepped on. "I think I was around 35 stone," he said. "The thought of trying to lose the weight felt impossible."
From Unhealthy Habits to Marathon Runner
Josiah described a daily diet that included two breakfasts, multiple packets of biscuits, and late-night kebabs and snacks. He decided to take control, drastically slashing his calorie intake and adopting a keto diet for a year.
He then incorporated daily physical activity, starting with walking and cycling before progressing to gym sessions. Standing at 6ft 4ins, he has now slimmed down to 19 stone and wears an XL. His fitness journey reached an incredible peak when he completed two marathons in a year. "Even when I’d lost seven stone, I was still a significant weight to be running, but I did it," he said.
A New Life and a Warning Against Quick Fixes
The transformation has been life-changing. Josiah no longer relies on taxis, worries about aeroplane seats, or has to plan his life around avoiding walking. He has been so inspired that he quit his job in insurance to become a fitness coach.
He is also a vocal critic of using weight loss jabs as a first resort. "It should be worst case but it’s become a cosmetic thing," Josiah argued. "They aren’t willing to put in the work to naturally lose weight... You want to be healthy as well as skinny." He believes his journey proves that dedication to diet and exercise can yield extraordinary results without medical shortcuts.
Reflecting on his past, Josiah said he used humour and a "larger-than-life persona" to cope with his size from childhood. Now, with newfound confidence, he is building a future helping others. "I’m willing to leave my job and set up as a coach and trust it’ll work," he said, "even though I don’t have a six pack."
