A man has shared his incredible eight-stone weight loss after picking up one simple habit. Welsh man Mike Workman, 33, has shed an incredible eight stone in just one year after ditching his unhealthy eating habits. While on holiday in Turkey, Mike felt the weight of judgmental stares due to his size, tipping the scales at his heaviest in May 2023.
“I just felt very self-conscious, like all eyes on me, for the wrong reasons. I was struggling to walk because of the heat, I just felt generally uncomfortable with myself,” Mike told Wales Online. The discomfort and anxiety pushed him to take action, leading him to join Slimming World upon his return.
2020 was particularly tough for Mike as he lost both his grandparents in quick succession. He shared a deep bond with them and found solace in food during his grief.
His job as a carer meant he was often on the road, making it all too easy to grab high-calorie snacks on the go.
Determined to kick this detrimental habit, Mike embraced the Slimming World plan wholeheartedly. Starting at a staggering 22 stone and 6 1/2 lbs, he was astounded to find he had already lost 8lbs after his first week.
“My meals were already okay, but it was the in between that was bad,” he said. “And it can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. So breakfast is now either an omelette or we do a full breakfast Slimming World style, then lunch would be some sort of pasta dish or soup. Evening meals then it can be anything, we do a lot of spaghetti bolognese and chicken curries.”
Mike’s weight loss journey has been all about preparation, especially for those hectic workdays when there’s barely any time for a break.
He makes sure to cook his evening meal the night before, which helps him steer clear of the tempting takeaway and snack options that contributed to his weight gain.
The Slimming World diet, which Mike follows, operates on a system of categorising foods into ‘free’, ‘speed’, ‘healthy extras’, and ‘syns’. ‘Free’ foods include proteins, pastas, potatoes, and certain vegetables, while ‘speed’ foods are mostly fruits and vegetables.
‘Healthy extras’ encompass dairy and fibre-rich foods, and ‘syns’ cover everything else like biscuits, crisps, dips, sauces, and more. On this diet, followers are encouraged to fill at least one-third of their plate with ‘speed’ foods and to consume ‘free’ foods without restriction.
However, ‘healthy extras’ and ‘syns’ must be carefully measured and counted.
In less than a year since joining Slimming World, Mike has achieved an astounding weight loss of eight and a half stone, reaching his goal of 13st 13lb. He’s been so inspired by the transformation that he’s gearing up to launch his very own Slimming World group in the Afan Valley at the start of next month.
Not only has Mike seen success, but his husband James has also embraced the lifestyle, shedding 3st 4lb.
Mike encourages those contemplating drastic measures like weight loss surgery or injections to try “one last go” with Slimming World, adding: “Give it everything you have got, you can make it as hard or as easy as you like.”
