A man who had been overweight since his 20s and had a liver transplant ended up weighing more than 19 stone, so turned to his local Slimming World for help. Dylan Simkin, a 49-year-old maths tutor from Atherstone, Warwickshire, hit a new level of weight gain at 117 kilos after his liver operation. He knew he needed to make a change.
“I’d carried extra weight since my 20s, eating and drinking whatever I wanted – more focused on having fun than my health. Although I knew I probably needed to lose weight, I told myself I was just a big guy so didn’t need to worry too much. But my lifestyle caught up with me and I became very ill in December 2019, which was when I received my life-changing diagnosis – I needed a liver transplant. Trying to take in the doctor’s words as calmly as I could, inside I was reeling. While my condition wasn’t a direct result of my weight, it was a result of my heavy drinking, and I knew I wasn’t helping matters by living an unhealthy lifestyle and being unfit.”
After a tough recovery from his liver transplant in 2021, Dylan found it difficult to manage his weight. “I tried to lose weight on my own and lost about a stone, but then hit a plateau. I realized I needed external help and felt that Slimming World could offer me the support I need,” he explained. Initially, he thought weight-loss groups were predominantly for women and was surprised to learn that more than 30,000 men attend Slimming World.
Dylan started cooking wholesome meals instead of opting for fast food, and soon, he experienced notable changes. “Planning and cooking my meals became part of my routine, so instead of picking up fast food or mindlessly snacking, I made sure I always had something healthy planned – like yogurt, fruit, and oats for breakfast and homemade gammon, egg, chips and peas for dinner. The group support was great, too. Staying accountable and hearing other people’s experiences played a big part in my success.”
As he lost 6st (38kg), Dylan noticed improvements in his daily activities and his overall health. “Losing weight has taught me how to be honest with myself. After years of treating my body badly, I now treat it well and feel so much better for it. Hearing that I needed a liver transplant was a dark day, but now I’m grateful because it set me up for a healthier and happier life. My future is so much brighter now that I have lost 6st, so I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Source: The Mirror
