Ronald, 77, from Lancing, has slimmed down so much he was almost refused free travel because his old bus pass photo does not look like him any more.

Click on the green play button to see a video interview with Ronald

Ronald, from Tower Road, decided it was time to try and shed some weight after his size forced him to give up his job as a crane operator at Shoreham Harbour, and he noticed the word "obese" on his medical notes at Worthing Hospital.

He said: "It was after my wife died three years ago that I really started piling on the weight and I began to think it was time to lose weight when I couldn't do my shoelaces up any more."

Five stone in nine months

Ronald's daughter Valerie suggested he join his local Slimming World branch in North Road, Lancing – and within nine months he had gone from weighing 17 stone with a 46inch waist to 12 stone 2lbs with a 34inch waist.

Ronald said losing the weight came easily to him because he did not feel like he was on a diet but just eating in a different way.

"It was very simple," said Ronald.

"Basically you don't mix certain foods, so you don't eat meat when you're having pasta or rice for example.

"I really like my meat, and I can eat a lot of it if I want to.

"I can even eat a whole roast chicken if I really wanted to, I just couldn't eat the skin.

Chocolate treat

"And I can have unlimited fruit and vegetables.

"Also you are allowed to have a few treats a day, so I get to enjoy a drop of beer or chocolate now and again."

It is now 10 months since Ronald lost the weight and he has remained at his target weight and feels like a new man.

He said: "Well, what can I say, I am fighting fit and feel full of health.

"I definitely feel like a whole new man and I'm really enjoying it."

Six-mile walks

Ronald, who has four other children, 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, is a member of Worthing Aquarena, in Brighton Road, and walks from his home to go to the gym four times a week.

He no longer needs to use a walking stick and tries to walk six miles most days.

Ronald was named Slimming World's local Man of the Year and recently made it through to the semi-final of the national competition when he met Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh – although he has admitted he did not know who the actress was.

For more information about Slimming World, contact Lisa on 01273 263531.


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