‘Man of the Year’ accolade for local slimmer Stephen

Stephen Boyd spent years feeling unhappy with his weight and was desperate to drop the pounds.

Now, he has gone from 21 stone to 17 stone in just 28 weeks and has been named Templepatrick’s Slimming World Man of the Year 2014.

“I tried losing weight before but to be honest I didn’t really know how to go about it,” Stephen said.

“I tried to watch what I ate, but I’d never lose much weight – or if I did it wouldn’t stay off for long.

“I always thought that slimming groups were just for women, but as ‘going it alone’ wasn’t working for me I decided I didn’t have anything to lose by giving Slimming World a go.

“I was very nervous walking into the group for the first time, felt a bit like a fish up a tree, but everyone was so friendly and I soon realised we were all there for the same reason.

“Within a couple of weeks it’s like I’d always been there and the other members made sure I was looked after every week!

“I haven’t looked back since and, at four stone lighter, I definitely don’t have any regrets about joining the group. I recommend it to everyone now – men and women.”

Data from the weight loss organisation found that when men join one of their 11,000 groups, they lose more weight than women, with male slimmers losing an average of 6.1 per cent of their weight in three months compared to women who lose an average of 4.6 per cent in the same period of time.

On joining the group, Steven began following Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan. He said: “It’s about healthy eating, not fads and gimmicks. Now I regularly cook and make my favourite meals in a low-fat way, so I can still have curries and Chinese dishes, steak and chips and roast dinners.”

As the pounds started to drop off, Steven found he had more energy. “Slimming World encourages you to boost your weight loss and fitness by becoming more active, but you can start as big or as small as you like.

“I started walking and cycling; I can honestly say I feel like a different man since losing weight,” he added.

“My job is very physical and I can’t believe the difference I have found and how much easier it is jumping on and off the van, making deliveries every day now.

“Customers I have been delivering to for years don’t recognise me, some of them even walk past me.”

Donna Conlan, who runs the Templepatrick Slimming World group that Steven attends, said she was “incredibly proud” of him. “Steven is proof that men can benefit from getting support to eat more healthily and become more active just as much as women,” she added.

“He’s a real inspiration.”