At his heaviest, Damian Murray, 39, feared he would die because of his weight when he tipped the scales at 28st 9lbs.
The HR Insights Manager, from Lancashire, claims he was “always a big lad” after putting on weight during his 30s.
He decided it was time to start his weight loss when he was convinced to enter the ballot for the 2019 Virgin London Marathon.
Now speaking exclusively to Daily Star Online, the dad-of-one has lifted the lid on his success – with the help of Slimming World.
“It was a bit of a joke, there was no way I really thought I’d be able to do it”
Damian Murray
Damian said: “I lost a little [weight] in my twenties, but in my thirties it started to really spiral out of control.
“It was scary how quickly I was putting on weight, and I’d just accepted the fact that I was going to die early because of the weight I was.
“What made me decide to do something about it in the end was the fact that I’d been convinced to enter the ballot for the 2018 Virgin London Marathon.
“My wife had just run the 2016 one, and I was convinced by a mate of ours to put in for the following year.
“It was a bit of a joke, there was no way I really thought I’d be able to do it, but after signing up, I started to think about it more and more, and how if there was ever a time to make a change, it was now.”
Since he joined his local group, Damian has lost a whopping 12st 2lbs, weighing 16st 7lbs.
He has completed two marathons, London and Dublin, plus a number of half marathons and 10kms.
“I look back on my life before losing all this weight and I can’t believe I let myself get into that situation,” Damian explained.
The dad concluded: “I’m so much happier now, have loads more energy, am more outgoing and sociable.
“I love trying new things that I can do with this new body. I’ve started skateboard, been white water rafting, and last summer did a tandem skydive over the California Coast.
“All things the old me would have never been able to do. My relationships with my loved ones have also improved massively. Plus I’ve stopped snoring– something my wife is very happy about.
“The great thing about Slimming World is that there’s nothing you can’t eat, you just learn to make better choices. Beer’s probably the thing I’ve cut down on the most, but it means I really enjoy it when I have it.”
Damian is running the London Marathon as part of Slimming World’s marathon team. The team is running for Cancer Research UK and the Irish Cancer Society at the Virgin Money London Marathon this April. To sponsor the team visit: https://www.justgiving.com/
- Slimming World
- Weight loss
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