A former 25-stone couch potato shed almost half his body weight so he could be trim on his wedding day.
Oliver Reid lost an amazing 11 stone in 18 months after being spurred on by his impending wedding and the thought of fatherhood.
From barely being able to climb a flight of stairs, he has gone on to compete in a ‘Tough Mudder’ event and become a genuine fitness fanatic.
Oliver, 34, said: “I was happy in some ways but I knew my weight was holding me back.
“I wanted a full active life with my beautiful wife, and to enjoy the future we had planned, but could not do that as I was.”
This made Olly decide to join Slimming World after trying many other dietary fads and plans.
Olly was initially worried about joining the group because he thought he would be the only man.
Despite taking up a new diet, Olly revealed that exercise was out of the question at first due to his size.
He said: “I was so big that exercise wasn’t really an option at first so I had to wait for six months then I built it up.
“I just started walking for five minutes a day, then gradually built it up over time.
“My diet didn’t change that much, I could still have a full English breakfast, just the way I cooked it was completely different.”
In a miraculous 18 months, Olly, a welfare manager of St Neots, Cambs., went from 25 stone to 14 stone.
This culminated in him finishing a gruelling 12 mile Tough Mudder assault course and is planning another in May.
He said: “Finishing Tough Mudder was amazing, I would never have thought 18 months ago that I’d do anything like that and it was such an amazing feeling when I finished it.
“My life has changed beyond recognition, losing the weight has given me a new lease of life.
“I used to have to have clothes specially made or go to plus size shops which stocked XXL.
“Now if I see something I like in a shop window on the high-street I can go in and buy it without having to worry about sizes.
“I also feel that I am more outgoing and confident and I can’t wait to be able to play with the new baby and run around with him or her. This has honestly changed my life for the better.”
Olly and his wife, Karen, 34, were happily married in September last year, with the pair losing 13 stone between them.
Since then, Olly has lost another stone and feels he is at a happy weight for his 5ft 10in frame, but has not ruled out losing more further down the line after the birth of their first child in January.
He added: “I’m happy with the weight I am at the moment, at Slimming World you set your own targets and mine was 14 stone.
“I may lose more weight in the future but at the moment I’m happy.”
