Conor Steptoe with the certificate he received for losing 5% of his body weight (Image: Conor Steptoe / SWNS)
A 44-stone man, who was trapped indoors for six years due to crippling anxiety that left him sick at the mere thought of stepping outside, is now boldly undertaking a million-step health kick as part of a fundraiser.
At age 24, Conor Steptoe’s life in Margate, Kent, was dominated by a severe food addiction; his daily calorie intake could soar to an eye-watering 5,000.
However, a relative’s death became a startling wake-up call about the life-and-death stakes of his obesity.
Today, Conor is challenging himself to walk a million steps in a mere three months—a task once impossible, considering he barely managed to traverse from his living room to the kitchen.
With his mother’s unwavering support and encouragement from the ‘Man V Fat’ football league, he has shed more than three stone, tipping the scales at 41 stones, and has already collected a substantial amount of donations for the mental health organisation Mind.
Despite his past diet including healthy options such as fruits and veggies, Conor acknowledges it was the overwhelming quantities that fuelled his weight climb.
He detailed his previous unbridled habits: “I would eat whatever I could whenever I wanted if I was hungry. I’d have takeaways or home-cooked meals and would find it hard to stop eating.”
Keen to highlight a new chapter, he reflected, “I never used to count calories until I started this journey.”
Looking forward, his eyes are set on a goal weight of around 18 to 20 stones, adhering to a rigorous 1,800-calorie-a-day limit, a challenging target considering his deep-rooted food obsession and addiction.
Don’t miss… Woman shares ‘lazy’ weight loss tips that helped her shed 15lbs in three weeks
A 41-stone man who was unable to leave his house for six years is now walking one million steps (Image: Conor Steptoe / SWNS)
He said: “I have good days when I eat below my target, but some days, I reach the max and still feel like I could eat more.
“I’d heard about Man V Fat before and then saw it online. It’s really given me discipline, and by playing football once a week, I have a community of like-minded people who all want to lose weight.”
A crucial part in his decision to begin fundraising for Mind and start his weight loss journey was influenced by the passing of his cousin, who tragically took his life in May last year, Conor explains.
His mother, Susie, recognises the profound impact of the event on her son’s attitude, which shifted towards a desire to “do something with his life.”
The 46-year-old recounts: “When his cousin died, it was so unexpected, and the ripples it caused were unreal.
“Conor’s always struggled with his weight, but it got to the point where it was basically life or death, and I think when he saw his cousin, who was only a few months older than him, lose his life, it sort of shocked him.”
Now, he is embarking on a huge challenge, to walk a million steps in three months (Image: Conor Steptoe / SWNS)
“It gave him that strength to push past what he faced, not to care what people thought of him. He wanted to be healthy, to lose weight and do something with his life. It’s amazed me how he’s taken to it.
“Conor had never left the house since 2018, and yesterday, he came home after managing 15 minutes on the football field. It’s just phenomenal.
“And when the million steps challenge was suggested, I was taken aback, but Conor was determined to do it. It has really made me realise how much he has changed as a person.”
Conor Steptoe, who once struggled with severe anxiety and low self-esteem due to his weight, has become an inspiration as he embarks on a mission to shed the pounds and raise awareness.
Conor shared: “I had very low self-esteem and severe anxiety, and it made me feel physically sick whenever I would try to go out the front door – I would also feel increasingly worried that people would judge my size.”
He continued: “After losing my cousin, I realised life is short and fragile, and it showed me that I needed to face my anxieties and push through the fears to live my life,” adding, “If I did nothing, I knew I would not have long to live as my weight was at a critical level and had a massive impact on my physical and mental health.”
Conor’s determination saw him say, “So, despite feeling physically sick when I began going out I knew it was the time to do something, and I felt that my cousin had given me the strength to overcome the barriers I put up to keep myself housebound.”
He concluded: “I still feel anxious and sick, but I will continue to push through as I know that is what he would have wanted to see me do.”
His ‘one million steps challenge’ kicked off on December 23, and Conor has already clocked over 169,000 steps, raising £540 for Mind.
The community event ‘Walk a Mile with Conor’ led 16 individuals on a two-mile walk from Westgate Bay Cafe towards Margate and back, with his mother expressing amazement at the support and donations received.
Susie expressed her astonishment at the support received: “It’s absolutely amazing. I know everyone’s struggling financially across the county, but the amount that’s been donated has blown my mind, it’s unreal.”
Meanwhile, Conor is gearing up for more events to complement his challenge, with a two-mile walk scheduled for January 19. To contribute to this cause, donations can be made at: www.gofundme.com