27-stone dad who broke beds, sofas and chairs sheds half his body weight – Staffordshire Live

A severely overweight dad who would break beds, sofas and chairs just by sitting on them has shed more than half his body weight. Dave Winchester used to weigh in at 27 stone - and would sometimes be abused by strangers as he walked down the street.

But now the 36-year-old has been crowned Slimming World's Man of the Year after losing 14 stone. He was spurred on when told his father-in-law's dying wish was for him to get healthy.

Data analyst Dave rarely used to leave the house and struggled to find any clothes to fit him. He also struggled to drive when his belly got stuck on the steering wheel.

READ MORE: These inspirational slimmers lost 63 stone - and this is how

Having wanted to lose weight for years, Dave - who lives with wife Susie, 35, seven-year-old daughter Heidi and four-year-old Freddie - could not find a method that worked. He said: I knew I had a problem, but it wasnt until the wake when my mother-in-law told me her husbands dying wish was for me to join Slimming World that I decided to do something about it.

Hed been a member of the local Baptist church and had seen the posters for a Slimming World group that was held there. I knew he wanted the best for his daughter and grandchildren, so I decided to try and tackle my weight once and for all.

Dave Winchester before his weight loss ( Slimming World/Field Photographic/SWNS)

At first, he was worried he would be the only man and joined just for the online sessions. He said he was doing well until the pandemic hit when he found bad habits creeping back.

So, when in October 2021 Slimming World opened back up again, he decided to join his local group in Ashford. He said: I felt nervous because I had this perception that the group would be really cliquey and full of women and I worried Id be made to feel even more ashamed for being so overweight than I already was.

It was nothing like that at all so, so much better than I imagined. I wasnt the only guy there and everyone I met was so warm and supportive, plus we all had one thing in common we all wanted to lose weight.

Dave Winchester before his weight loss ( Slimming World/Field Photographic/SWNS)

Men often think that Slimming World is just for women but research shows that men tend to lose more weight than women, as well as boosting their physical and mental health and having more sex. There are 40,000 men that attend Slimming World sessions each week and 92 percent said they would recommend it to a friend or colleague.

Mr Winchester said: What I loved about Slimming World was that I could still eat big, hearty portions so I never felt hungry. Ive tried every diet you can think of. Soups, juices, calorie counting... they all worked for a while but Id inevitably end up hungry and reaching for the nearest quick fix, usually crisps chocolate or the takeaway menu.

So with Slimming World it was amazing to me that I could lose weight and still have a full English and steak and chips.

He said however that by far the biggest benefit of losing weight has been the impact on his family life, adding: I finally feel like the dad I always wanted to be. Heidi and I went to Park Run together recently and she absolutely loved it. Theres no way I could have done something like that with her before I lost weight. I barely had any energy to play with her at all.

I hope that her grandfather is proud of how far we have come as a family. Were all active, happy and healthy and I think thats the life he wanted for us.

Dave Winchester after his weight loss ( Slimming World/Field Photographic/SWNS)

VITAL STATS:

Name: Dave Winchester

Age: 36

Height: 5ft 11in

Starting weight: 27st 1lb

Current weight: 12st 6.5lbs

Weight loss: 14st 8.5lbs

Waist size before: 48

Waist size now: 32

Date joined Slimming World: June 2018

Before menu

Breakfast: Double sausage and egg muffin, hash brown, latte

Lunch: Two 12 sausage baguettes, grab bag of crisps, chocolate

Snack: Chocolate, sweets, crisps

Dinner: Pizza, chips, nuggets

Snacks: Fizzy pop, cans of cider, Cornish pasty, microwave burger

After menu

Breakfast: A full English with grilled bacon, Slimming World sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes and eggs fried in a pan sprayed with low-calorie cooking spray

Lunch: A lunch bowl made of flavoured couscous, onion, pepper, sweetcorn and beetroot served with tuna or beef

Dinner: A homemade meal such as slow-cooked chilli con carne served with brown rice

Snack: Slimming World Hi-Fi bar, packet of low-fat crisps

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27-stone dad who broke beds, sofas and chairs sheds half his body weight - Staffordshire Live