Villa fan Darren sheds almost eight stone after banter with colleagues
A football fan from Hednesford who shed almost eight stone says his weight loss was inspired by banter with work colleagues.
Darren Ball, aged 34, tipped the scales at over 19 stone in January 2013.
The home shopping delivery driver, of Sweetbriar Way, slimmed down to 11 stone after a year-long weight loss challenge.
He now hopes to become a personal trainer and slimming consultant.
He said: "The trigger came from messing about with work mates.
"I called him bald and he said he would rather be bald than fat. It was harmless but it got me thinking.
"After that I remember slouching in my van thinking 'look at that fat belly'.
" I started noticing myself in the mirror more and knew I had to change."
His clothing sizes reduced from 5XL to small and his 52" waist is now a slim 32".
Following his success, Darren and his partner of 12 years, Claire, have booked their wedding for 2018 and hope to start a family.
He said: "I started to gain weight in college, eating takeaways, then through my twenties I got bigger and bigger.
"I had tried loads of diets in the past and lost a few pounds here and there but I always went back to my old ways.
"If I had carried on getting bigger I probably would have been dead in 10 years."
Following his success he said: "It would be nice to inspire people to do it too by sharing what I have achieved.
"Slimming World doesn't feel like a diet, it's a lifestyle change. There's no points or calorie counting.
"I can eat what I want and it's proper sized meals and normal foods.
"It's about the way things are cooked, I can have a full fry up but now grill things. It's simple changes."
Following a hernia operation last year, he was unable to exercise for nine weeks and he now weighs just over 12 stone.
He said: "Exercise gives you the best results but I relaxed a little with my diet after my operation. I worked so hard to get to my target weight, the plan is to get back to 11 stone and stay there."
