A man who weighed 26 stone has said joining a slimming group has played a part in “saving” his life after shedding the pounds and fighting a battle with cancer.
Martin Hayles, 49, of Stanway, moved to Colchester from London in 2019. It was during this period that his weight “ballooned” to 26.2 stone due to having takeaways almost every weekend, particularly kebabs, Indian and Chinese dishes.
Following his weight gain, Martin suffered from various health issues, including difficulty getting out of bed and downstairs, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and borderline diabetes.
In February 2020, and after constant pain from sciatica, Martin decided to join a Slimming World group. He mentioned, “With my health deteriorating, I reluctantly decided to join Slimming World, thinking I would be in a room full of women. To my surprise, there were several men there too.”
By February 2023, he had lost seven stone. However, during this time, he began having difficulty swallowing food. After discussing his concerns with his peers at the group, they encouraged him to see his GP.
Following investigations, including an endoscopy, Martin discovered he had stage 2 esophageal cancer. This shocking diagnosis did not deter him from his weight loss journey.
Martin recalled breaking the news to his friends at the group, stating, “It was a hugely emotional morning with support and hugs in abundance. I promised myself that I would return to finish what I started.”
Over the next year, Martin underwent numerous scans, biopsies, an eight-week course of chemotherapy, and major surgery to remove the cancer by taking away his esophagus and half his stomach to form a new esophagus.
Now cancer-free, Martin credited his weight loss journey for improving his health. He reported that his sleep apnea has disappeared and both his blood pressure and blood sugars are now normal.
“Going to Slimming World was one of the best life decisions I could have ever made,” he expressed. “I’m far healthier now than I’ve ever been, and who knows how much harder my cancer battle could have been had I not joined and lost the weight; 9 stone heavier and totally out of shape and fitness.”
Martin emphasized the role of Slimming World in his life: “I will always be grateful to Slimming World for showing me the way and playing its part in saving my life. Being at Slimming World for me is like having a second family, we are constantly there for each other to support or give advice. With the support of a great consultant who cares, then you are truly on the road to success, Slimming World is second to none.”
Source: Colchester Gazette