A HGV driver from Fanad, was so determined to overhaul his unhealthy lifestyle that he quit his job in order to join Slimming World and lost 16st – half his body weight.
Christopher Blaney, 29, found his previous job as a long-distance truck driver to be very stressful, with high-pressure deadlines meaning he spent weeks away from home in the UK and Europe with few options to eat healthy food on the road.
Realising that his weight was affecting his health, he decided to switch jobs and tackle his weight issues once and for all.
He says: “A lot of my weight gain occurred because I found myself out of work during the recession. I was a plumber at the time and without a job to go to, I turned to food. Later, I became a long-distance truck driver, which wasn’t good for my weight either.
“The work was very time critical so it was just a case of grabbing whatever food I could lay my hands on – it was usually unhealthy, processed junk food. I was in an unhappy place and knew something had to change.”
Determined to give his weight loss efforts the best possible chance, Christopher found a more flexible employer and joined Sandra Wylie’s Slimming World group in The Vestry, Letterkenny.
His new boss is very supportive of Christopher’s weight loss journey and understands the importance of him attending group each week.
He says: “I worked away so much before that I would have struggled to attend group and I felt like I really needed to commit to a new lifestyle and get a bit of routine back into my life. My new role is much better suited to me and allows me a lot more freedom and flexibility.
“Due to the nature of my work I still eat out five or six times a week, which isn’t a problem with Slimming World. I opt for lean cuts of meat and ask for sauces on the side and for vegetables to be cooked without butter. They’re such simple changes but they really make a difference.
“As I’m not under such tight time pressures these days, I can afford to think about my options and eat proper meals too – rather than just grabbing the first thing I could lay my hands on. If anything I definitely eat more now than I did before, I’m just eating the right kind of food.
“I also stopped drinking, which has had a big impact on my weight loss and my confidence has improved too. When I was bigger I used to worry that people would stare at me because of my size, but I can go anywhere I like now without feeling self-conscious.”
Christopher has now lost an incredible 16st.
He does admit feeling nervous before attending his Slimming World group for the first time, so much so that he didn’t attend his local group in case anyone would know him. Instead he drove 20 miles from home to a group in Letterkenny.
Nowadays however, he only wishes he had the courage to join sooner.
He says: “My advice to anyone thinking about joining Slimming World would be to just do it; you’ve got nothing to lose – except weight of course! The important thing to remember is that everyone in that room is there for the same reason, so you’ve all instantly got something in common.”
Since losing weight Christopher has also become a lot more active and now has ambitions to become a better runner.
He says: “In the past few months I’ve got into running and I’m really enjoying it so far, in fact I have just completed my first 5k. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to remember how far I have come, the thought of going for a run when I was 32st was just impossible.
“It’s hard to believe that I have gone from someone who could only wear clothes from specialist shops to someone who can just stroll into a shop and pick up a pair of 34” trousers. I feel like I have a whole new lease of life and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead! One thing is for sure though; I’ll still keep on trucking and slimming!”
Christopher came 6th at the Slimming World Greatest Loser 2017 Awards in London on Tuesday 16th May, 2017. The competition, which included slimmers from across the UK and Ireland, was won by Tracey Topping, from Northamptonshire, who lost 18st.
Starting weight: 32st/448lbs/204kg
Weight loss: 16st /224lbs/102kg
Weight now: 16st/224lbs/102kg
Height: 6ft/1.82m
Joining date: 02/03/2015
Age: 29
Group: Christopher attends the Letterkenny Slimming World group, run by Consultant Sandra Wylie
