A secret sandwich addict who didn't leave the house for five years finally feels able to take his son to school, after losing 20 stone.
Former scaffolder Ian Whitmore, 46, could no longer walk upstairs when his weight ballooned to 35st after he ate 12 sandwiches each day. The dad-of-two broke his shoulder in an accident at work in April 2004 and was forced to leave his job after developing COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
While recovering at home he steadily piled on the pounds with a diet of 12 ham or bacon sandwiches a day - going through a loaf of bread - as well as crisps, pork pies and greasy takeaways. Ian admits he would regularly wake up and eat six sandwiches, a packet of family-size Doritos and a Pot Noodle in the early hours of the morning.
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At his heaviest he was consuming 7,000 calories a day, and he eventually developed diabetes in 2018. Ian became so large that his family were forced to fit a wet room and medical bed downstairs in their home as he couldn't physically climb up the stairs.
Ian revealed his greatest incentive to lose the weight was for his children - Courtney, 16 and Elwood, nine - after his son was diagnosed with autism and ADHD in February 2021. Ian kick started his lifestyle overhaul in January 2021 and by April 2022 had managed to lose over 20 stone.
Ian, from Norfolk, said: “I used to go on a binge at 2am after a couple of hour’s sleep. I’d finish off something like six sandwiches, a family-sized bag of Doritos and a Pot Noodle all in one sitting.
“I was trying to hide it from my family - I felt so ashamed but I couldn’t stop myself. It was horrible - depression and anxiety kicked in and I basically lived on my sofa watching TV for years.
“But when my son was diagnosed, everything changed and I lost all the weight by restricting my calorie intake to 1,200 calories a day. My life five years ago is a complete 180 degrees different to what it is today."
Ian was forced to retire from work in April 2004 after a 21ft scaffolding pole fell and landed on his shoulder. Being unable to move around, the doting dad quickly piled on the pounds - going from 16 stone and a size 2XL to 36 stone and a size 8XL over the course of a decade.
In the space of 10 years, his weight had more than doubled and he struggled to live a normal life with his family. Ian says he essentially became a "recluse".
He managed to lose the weight by a complete diet overhaul, as his injuries prevented him from exercising. In fifteen months, he was down to a size XL with a 34 inch waist. The first time he left the house in five years was on a "monumental" shopping trip to buy new clothes.
Ian continued: ''The main change was actually being able to leave the house and do things with my wife and kids. It's been amazing, I missed out on so much and now I'm finally able to make up for lost time.
“It’s so normal to many dads but to me it's such an amazing thing to do - Elwood won’t let me miss even one day now. I love taking my youngest to the park, taking him swimming and playing with them both without falling asleep or having no energy.''
Ian is now hoping to raise £20,000 for excess skin removal surgery, which is currently not covered by the NHS, through his GoFundMe page. He said: “In hot weather, I get bad rashes from the loose skin rubbing which feels horrible.
“The saggy skin makes me really lack confidence - even with my own wife as I don’t like changing or taking my top off in front of her.
“Having worked so hard up to this point, I’d love to feel fully free and confident in myself. I know I’m so nearly there, but I’d just love to take this final step to achieve a brand new me.”
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