Dad 'eating himself to death' realised he had to change while watching football

18 December 2023 , 08:27

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Ian Forrest once tipped the scales at 34st 6.5lb (Image: Ian Forrest)

A dad has described moment he realised he could die after feeling unwell watching the Champions League.

Ian Forrest tipped the scales at 34st 6.5lb after drinking ten cans of coke a day and eating a diet of fast food and takeaways. But the father of two decided to change his life after he began feeling unwell while watching Manchester City play Inter Milan in the Champions League final on June 10.

Ian, 45, said: "The next day I had to go see a doctor. I phoned the NHS 111 number and they made me go to see a doctor. I had a severe water infection." Ian was given antibiotics to treat the infection which cleared up three days later. However, from that day on, he made a promise to himself that he was going to lose weight. If ever my body told me I needed to lose weight it was then. I thought if I want to be a grandad and all that family stuff I better [lose weight]."

Dad-to-two Ian used to snack on chocolate bars and crisps, but he's ditched these for fruit (Ian Forrest)

Ian has lost eight stone one pound in the space of six months (Ian Forrest)

After speaking to his mum and auntie, who are members of Slimming World, Ian was encouraged to go along with them. Ian, of Speke, Liverpool, said: "My perspective of it was it's all for women, I'm a man, I'm just going to be embarrassed or I'll feel ashamed. It was totally the opposite. They were all really welcoming. Paula, my consultant, and the group have been really supportive. I was nervous going for the first time but they made me feel at ease. I'm 45, I was 44 when it started, and that's the first ever diet I've been on in 44 years."

Ian, a Liverpool FC fan, has lost 8st 1lbs in the space of six months and has dropped three sizes from 5XL to 2/3XL. Ian told the Liverpool Echo: "I've still got a way to go but my loss, as we're speaking, is eight stone one pound." I've never really worried about my weight before. I was just eating myself to death, getting bigger and bigger. Everyone I see says 'I can't believe how much weight you've lost' wherever I go now.

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"I'm in the middle of saving my own life. If I never did Slimming World I probably would have died. I've got a daughter who's 23 and a son who's 20 - they're so proud of me and the motivation I've had off them and my partner, and everyone at Slimming World, it's making me not want to give up."

Ian's diet before

Ian said: "I used to have ten cans of coke a day, chocolate bars, crisps, takeaways and drive-thru McDonald's, pizza. I never cared about food. I could get four chocolate eclairs in the supermarket and I could eat all four in one sitting."

Ian's diet now

Breakfast

Boiled/scrambled eggs or Weetabix with yoghurt and fruit

Lunch

Soup or chicken salad

Dinner

Slimming World curry and rice

Snacks

Apples and oranges

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