Wilmslow man sheds over 20 stone ahead of daughter's wedding

A sixty-two year old Wilmslow resident has lost over 20 stone in just over a year, in time to walk his daughter down the aisle.

Drew Donaldson, who initially weighed 32st 7lbs and now weighs 13st 10lbs, decided he needed to take action after realising that he had spent far too many years having his existence restricted by his weight.

Drew explained "My weight problem didn't really start until mid life. I was a seaman, a navigator for an oil company for many years. Then I took a desk job with the company and things started to go downhill. I ate more and exercised less.

"I had tried to lose weight so many times but couldn't seem to get the hang of it. Every day I'd start a new diet. I would eat a healthy breakfast and lunch. By the evening the diet would be over. I'd eat huge meals and then snack on big bags of dry roasted peanuts, family-sized bags of Maltesers and crisps with dips.

"In hindsight, I was a comfort eater. Food helped me deal with life's challenges including my recent divorce and feelings of isolation.

"As my weight grew my health problems became increasingly dangerous. I was borderline diabetic and have to get my blood checked at the GP's surgery regularly. I had to wear a special mask when I was sleeping because I had obstructive sleep apnoea. I had high blood pressure which I was on high medication for; I took pills for gout. The fat was slowly killing me.

"I couldn't walk anywhere, I was breathless. If I went shopping I had to park the car right outside the relevant shop. Even in my flat I didn't move about unless I had to. If I was going to the kitchen I'd think, "Right, what do I need to get to save me having to walk back this way again later?" It was a case of restricting any movement as it caused me so much discomfort.

"I was constantly afraid I'd fall over and wouldn't be able to get back up so I used a walking stick. I couldn't bend down and put socks on so I had bare feet in my shoes. I couldn't bend to tie shoe laces so everything had to be pre-laced. I couldn't fit the seatbelt in my car. My belly rubbed against the steering wheel when I drove! After my recent divorce, I bought a flat because I couldn't get up stairs."

Drew signed up to LighterLife where he swapped conventional food with four nutritious Foodpacks which restricted his daily intake to just 600 calories and he lost 20 pounds in his first week.

He added "As the weight came off so my physical restrictions, fell away, one by one. Suddenly I'd think, "Hey, I'm walking and I'm not out of breath...Hey, I can tie my own shoe laces, now...Wow, my seatbelt fits, and my belly isn't brushing up against the steering wheel anymore." It really exciting and spurred me on, month my month, to keep going.

"I started going walking once I was on the programme. I would go to this local park where the benches are really close together, so I could rest every two minutes. Bit by bit, my fitness picked up. Now I can walk without thinking about it. I can race up the stairs. I don't need my stick."

Drew's daughter Chloe was so inspired by his weight loss that she also joined the programme to lose weight for her wedding in the spring. She's already lost over 5st down and wants to lose one more before the big day.

Chloe said, "I can't have you walking down the aisle slimmer than me, Dad."

Drew's health has dramatically recovered and he is delighted that his doctor is reviewing and reducing all his medication.

Drew added "I'm not one to blow my own trumpet; it's not in my nature. However, if my story can help one single person to lose weight like I did it's worth my sharing it."