Real Success

Suffering from sleep apnoea and needing machinery to breathe at night; having to give up the job he loved as a family support worker; trying and failing with restrictive diets and prescription slimming pills; Stuart Howells was at the end of his tether. Being 12 stones overweight was affecting his and his family’s life so much that, just over two years ago, he visited his GP to beg for weight loss surgery.

“I was feeling so low about my weight and the effect that it was having on my life that I began to have suicidal thoughts. I was desperate and went to see my GP to plead to be referred for surgery. I’d already had to give up my job and I was worried about the effect my weight was having on my health. As a dad of four I was worried about my children and leaving them behind if I died. I felt like a coward and failure,” says Stuart.

“Luckily though, when I went to my doctor’s surgery I saw the nurse for my blood pressure. She told me about Slimming World and invited me to come along to the group she attended. It was the moment that changed my life.”

Now, the dad of four from Llanelli in South Wales, who has lost more than 12st since joining Slimming World in January 2008, has found a new lease of life.

“Walking through the doors of my first Slimming World group wasn’t easy – it took a lot of courage. I gave myself a good talking to and, when I did take that first step, I found a wonderful group atmosphere. Now I take my inspiration from new members. We share experiences and ideas, and support each other on our weight loss journeys.”

Stuart lost 8lbs in his first week, swapping sugar-coated cereals, huge wedges of cheese and greasy take-aways for big portions of healthy, filling, tasty food that the whole family could enjoy. “I couldn’t believe I could have things like chilli con carne with rice or chips, eggs and beans – this was nothing like the restrictive diets I’d tried before and I started to believe Slimming World would really work for me.”

As the pounds dropped off, Stuart began to regain his confidence and self-esteem and, after losing 6st, he returned to his job as family support worker. Now, having discovered a love for cooking, he’s passing his new-found knowledge on to the children. Weekly shopping and cooking sessions help to prepare the youngsters

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for independent living and, firmly believing that a healthy lifestyle starts with a healthy shopping basket, Stuart encourages them to buy low fat sausages, prepare vegetables and cook healthily. Far from being unable to keep up with the children and ensure their safety, Stuart now helps out at their football training sessions too.

“My self respect and confidence are now sky high,” says Stuart. “I feel I can overcome any problem life throws at me. Before I lost weight there was so much I wanted to do and couldn’t. I wanted to run, but I had a weak ankle and I would fall down in agony if I did too much. I wanted to go on rides at the theme park, but I couldn’t pull down the shoulder restraint so I had to get off. I felt so humiliated. I wanted to fly without having to get a seatbelt extension, go to the cinema without having to sit in an aisle seat.

“Now I have a life. I can cycle, play football. No activity is off limits. I completed my first ever half-marathon in March this year and finished ahead of many experienced club runners and best of all, ahead of a group of soldiers from the Welsh Guards. My motto for life now is: Imagine. Believe. Achieve. Anything is possible.”

find out more

If you'd like to reveal the real you, find your nearest warm and friendly Slimming World group, where men and women are welcome.