This week’s Amazing Loser David has been pretty laid back with his weight loss, getting his head in the game and just going for it. Even with many a holiday, he’s kept a reasonable mindset that he can lose any weight gained whenever he likes. And such a relaxed approach is not to be sniffed at as he’s now maintaining his whopping 11 stone weight loss.
Name: David Wilson
Age: 48
Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands
Occupation: Managing director of own business bending steel
Height: 6ft 1
Highest weight: 29st 5 (but may have been more!) (that’s 411lbs, or 186.4kg)
Current weight: 17st 8 (246lbs / 111.6kg), but usually around 16st before lockdown
Weight lost: 165lbs / 74.8kg / 11st 11
Weight goal: I’ve been as low as 15st 4, but I’d like to get to 15st.
What led to you becoming overweight?
I was never really bothered too much, and have always been overweight. I go on loads of holidays and cruises, all-inclusive, so every time I went away I gained more and more weight.
What negative experiences did you have of being overweight?
It was something I had been used to for years so the main thing was the worry of health issues, although I never had any health problems before I started to lose weight.
What made you decide that you needed to lose weight?
I was closing in on turning 45 and just decided it was time, or my health would really start to suffer. My wife had lost weight before but I had never really committed, so we both decided to do it together. She went to WW (Weight Watchers) as she had previously but I just used the WW app.
What did you eat before you lost weight?
I always ate decent meals, but always too much. I never said ‘no’ to anything so my problem was more about the amount I was eating. I did like sandwiches though!
I also used to finish the kid’s meals off as well, and going on holiday 3 or 4 times a year and eating anything I liked didn’t help. I never checked my weight when I got back home to see where I was at either.
Had you tried to lose weight before? If yes, what made this time different from the times before?
I had lost 3 stone a few years ago but didn’t go at it fully and didn’t really commit. Once I started focusing on it and losing weight, I was doing about a stone every 3 weeks and seeing that result pushed me on.
I also found it fairly easy which made me feel guilty for not doing it before. I stopped smoking 30 years ago and that was the same. Once my mind was ready I found it easy.
What method did you use to lose weight?
Basically just eating fresh food. My wife was fantastic and still is with cooking. I recorded what I ate on the WW app, so it was points-based but it’s really the same as counting calories which I do with another app now. I try not to eat anything processed and aim to eat fresh. I had a few months off during lockdown but I’m back to it now.
What do you eat now?
Usually a banana and/or an apple for breakfast, wife’s homemade soup with turkey for lunch and then my wife makes chilli, chicken and rice or Cajun chicken and salad for dinner. Basically I eat lots of chicken!
We do go out for meals but the majority of the time we eat healthily. When I was full-on dieting I didn’t really have any treats or extras, which basically cut my calories to fewer than 1500 a day.
Before lockdown, you lost an incredible 13 stone in 16 months. Did you experience any problems with losing so much weight in such a short space of time?
I lost muscle everywhere so I had a bad back for months, and I had problems with diarrhoea and had to keep running to the toilet.
Once, I was on holiday in 95-degree heat and shivering. I had this for months and was eventually diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and PSC (primary sclerosing cholangitis) which affects the liver and this ruled my life for about a year.
I did Couch to 5k, which was a struggle as I had to keep stopping as though I needed the toilet. Not very funny at the time. I have had no symptoms for nearly 2 years though which coincided with me eating a more normal diet and joining MAN v FAT Football. But no way could I have played football if I was still ill. I think the illness is all linked to the amount of weight I lost.
What was the hardest thing about losing weight?
I found losing weight easy, but the difficult part was getting my head around being thinner. It took a long time to see myself that way, but now it’s hard to see myself at 29 stone.
How has life changed now that you’ve lost weight?
I play a lot of football – too much, my wife says! But I’ve made a lot of new mates. I also now play badminton.
I’ve had to buy 4 new sets of clothes along the way too, but that’s so much easier now that I can buy whatever I want.
Are you managing to maintain your weight loss? How difficult is that?
I haven’t maintained during lockdown, and I treated it as a holiday. But I go on lots of holidays, usually gaining a stone or so after 2 weeks, but I know I can lose it over 4 weeks or so, so I’m not at all concerned.
I’m happy at 16 stone and don’t want to make myself ill anymore trying to get lower – I think that’s my natural weight.
How was lockdown for you?
I didn’t find it hard really. My eldest daughter, who lives and works in Amsterdam, came home for 3 months and we also had our youngest at home. In February, we got 2 miniature dachshund puppies too so our house was really busy!
I’ve definitely eaten and drank too much, I’ve treated it as a holiday but I’ve managed to keep my fitness up so I still feel good. I’ve enjoyed the food and drink I’ve had and I know I’ll lose it again, so I’m not concerned, and now that lockdown has eased I’m back to football 3 times a week and eating healthily.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to lose weight?
I went full-on and saw results quickly which spurred me on. I’m glad I did it and it was right for me but I had other problems because of it. The best advice is to do what you are comfortable with. Every pound is a step in the right direction, so just keep going. Use the support of your family and/or your teammates. You can do it anytime.
What was your MAN v FAT Football experience like?
I’ve loved it all. I’ve been involved for 2 years in October and I’ve made some great mates. I love 11 a side games too. I’m not the best player, but I love the fitness it gives you and I try and make an impact whenever I play.
My teammates have always provided support and motivation and I’ve always wanted to be a benefit for the team in return. Each session is a good laugh and it’s great to get to speak to guys who are all different ages and at different stages of their lives.
