A snack-loving dad has shared how he transformed his self-confidence after shedding nearly five stone in a year.
Terry Burt, 67, says he had not been happy with his body for over a decade, and when his diet of crisps, chocolate and sweets saw his weight rise to 23 stone, he decided to make a change.
With the support of his wife, the snack-lover joined a weight loss support group, and he's never looked back since. Together the pair transformed their diets, but they never had to deny themselves the food they love, as the Manchester Evening News reports.
Talking to the publication, Terry revealed how he's shed four and a half stone since February, smashing his New Year target in the process, and it is all to do with making clever swaps.
The dad from Denton, Greater Manchester, said: "I could still have snacks, but instead of a pack of Walkers, I’d have some that were 70kcals instead.
"With chocolate, I would have an Alpro bar instead of a Mars bar. My head is still having these treats, but not the calorie count I would have had if it was normal."
Terry, who credits Tameside-based Beeweighed with his success, thinks the support group's positive approach makes all the difference. "It really works," he said. "If you put weight on, no one is having a go at you. They support you and the next week you draw a line under it and start again.
"The weight has been coming off. Usually with weight loss programmes you give up after four months and within two weeks you put the weight back on. [My weight loss] is months ahead of schedule."
He added that he hopes to lose another stone by March, which will mark just over a year since he joined the programme.
Terry, who works for a chemist delivering prescriptions, says he manages to swim twice a week which has helped him along his weight loss journey. He also sticks to eating healthy meals including pasta, chicken, fish, jacket potatoes, and lots of vegetables.
He added: "I still have bread but they are 50kcal a slice. My biggest drama was watching telly with crisps, chocolate, and sweets. At Beeweighed , you can do whatever suits you. You're not denied access to anything.
"I've got a lot more energy and I’m comfortable. It’s cost me a fortune in clothes, though – I've had to get rid of a lot of stuff and get new shirts, etc. I'm fitting into clothes I’ve not worn for four or five years."
Praising Beeweighed's owner, the 'happy' member said: "It’s a good group and Lynda does a good job. I’m glad I met her; she sorted my life out. I've not been happy with my body for around 15 years."
Owner Lynda Leadbetter, who holds meetings in Denton, Haughton Green, Longsight, Stalybridge, and Cheshire, is equally pleased by Terry's results.
She said: "Terry has been an absolute pleasure to help, he smashes his goals every week, he’s a valued member of the Denton group and I’m extremely proud of him.
"True story - he’s lost that much, when he was getting his brew, his trousers actually fell to the floor!"
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