Nick’s the ‘best version of himself’ after life-changing 6st weight loss
- A dad from Surrey says he’s physically and mentally fitter than ever since losing an incredible 6st in eight months at his local Slimming World group
- At 18st 11lbs, Nick Furlong felt his weight was impacting every part of his life including his job as an RAC patrol manager
- A routine check showed he had pre-diabetes, high cholesterol and sleep apnoea and he considered taking weight loss drugs
- Since joining Slimming World, the 45-year-old is much more confident at work and a fit and active dad to his children
Nick Furlong, 45, who says his weight affected every aspect of his life, feels he is in the best place both physically and mentally after losing 6st (38kg) in eight months with Slimming World.
He says: “I was relatively slim until I hit my 20s. My weight crept up from there so, I’ve essentially lived most of my life overweight. I’ve tried all sorts of diets over the years – Keto, meal replacement shakes and even the baby food diet. I’d lose a bit of weight, but none of them were sustainable. I didn’t enjoy what I was eating and felt I was missing out, which led to me feeling depressed and eating even more, in a downward spiral. I was seriously contemplating weight loss drugs before starting Slimming World and I’m so glad I didn’t go down that route.
“I’m a mechanic by trade and I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years. I work for the RAC managing a team of 43 patrols who attend hundreds of breakdowns every day. I no longer work at the roadside myself, and one of the reasons was because it was becoming such a struggle. I’d been known to get myself wedged under many a car while working and the physical side of the job was getting harder and harder.”
It was when Nick’s youngest son Oscar was born in 2019 that he really started considering his future. He says: “I knew I wasn’t the youngest of dads and my health wasn’t great either. I have been asthmatic all my life and I hadn’t realised what a huge part my weight played in this. I decided to go for a routine check-up at the doctor’s and the results were eye-opening. The doctor said I had prediabetes, high cholesterol and sleep apnoea too.”
Nick and his four best friends, decided to go along to his local Slimming World group. He says: “I was very sceptical at first. I was worried what being in a group was going to be like and that this would become something else I wasn’t able to stick with. But I was so wrong. My Wednesday night group is a highlight of my week. I soon realised that I didn’t have to miss out, I can still eat all my favourite foods and we can still eat together as a family. My Consultant Clare and the other members are so supportive.”
Nick, who lives with his wife Kerrie and two sons, 20-year-old Josh and Oscar, who’s now five, soon began to enjoy Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, and introduced new healthy ways of cooking and eating for the whole family. He says: “Clare helped me realise where my excess calories came from. I started planning my meals, so I didn’t make unhealthy decisions because I was hungry and in a rush. I prepared things to take to work with me and the other members in group gave me ideas to help me stay on track.”
In time, Nick became more active with the help of Slimming World’s physical activity support programme, which helps members introduce activity at their own pace and in a way that fits in with their daily routine.
One of my reasons for joining a Slimming World group was because I wanted to be an active dad, to be able to run in the parent’s race at my son’s sports day to show him that you can give anything a go. Before losing weight I’d avoid getting involved and my weight kept me on the sidelines, but not now! There’s been nothing but positive effects from my weight loss on my family, which I love!
“Being slimmer and having more energy encouraged me to get more active. I joined the gym with the same friends I joined Slimming World with, and I honestly love it. I never would have set foot in a gym when I was heavier. The simplest of tasks were a challenge before – I got out of breath just walking around the house. I’m a really active dad now, I enjoy long walks with the dogs and have even tried classes like spin and pilates. Slimming World has changed my life so much for the better.”
Now that he’s 6st lighter, Nick says he is much more positive at work too: “I feel more organised and focused throughout the day and feel I can give better support to the team that I look after. With my new positive mindset and drive to improve myself, I’ve enrolled in a team leader course that will provide a qualification at the end. My mental health and focus have all improved so much since I started my journey and feel like I’m the best possible version of me.”
VITAL STATS:
Name: Nick Furlong
Age: 45
Height: 5ft 11ins/180.34cm
Starting weight: 18st 11lbs/263lbs/119.2kg
Current weight: 12st 11lbs/179lbs/81.2kg
Weight loss: 6st/84lbs/38kg
Waist size before: 42-44ins/111.76cm
Waist size now: 32ins/81.2cm
Date joined Slimming World:13/03/2024
Group: Nick is a member of Clare O’Connell’s group in Woodhatch, Surrey
Before menu
Breakfast: Cafe bacon rolls, sausage sandwiches, or fast-food breakfast
Lunch: Shop-bought sandwiches or more fast food
Dinner: Home cooked meals like spaghetti bolognese
Snacks: Packs of crisps. Chocolate bars. Petrol station cakes/doughnuts.
After menu
Breakfast: Overnight oats. Fruit and low-fat yogurt
Lunch: Tuna salad and rice dishes
Dinner: Homemade Slimming World burgers, curries, stir fries and spaghetti bolognese. Lots of fish, lean meat and vegetables.
Snacks: Fruit, nuts, boiled eggs, chocolate bar
– ends –
For further information please contact Hannah Bowmer in the Slimming World press office on Hannah.Bowmer@slimmingworld.co.uk or on 01773 304245.
Notes to editors
- This story is NOT for syndication to any magazines without the consent of Nick Furlong and the Slimming World press office (details above).
- Slimming World and Nick Furlong retain copyright of all images attached to this press release. After photos should be credited: Slimming World/Paul Buller
About Slimming World
Slimming World, founded by Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE in Derbyshire in 1969, is the UK and Ireland’s leading weight loss organisation. Each week, more people choose to attend a Slimming World group than any other weight loss programme. Our tried, tested and trusted evidence-based approach has helped millions of people to lose weight and keep it off long-term. We support 700,000 people weekly through our community weight-loss groups, run by 3,500 highly trained self-employed Consultants, and digital service.
Our founding principles make us unique:
- Our support system is built on a deep understanding of the guilt and stigma people living with overweight and obesity experience. We always treat people with genuine care, empathy, respect and understanding. When members join Slimming World, they become part of a community, in group and online, and each week we inspire and motivate people to make positive mindset changes and develop new, lasting healthy habits around food and activity using effective, sustainable behaviour change techniques.
- Our healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, liberates members through our concept of Free Food. Members fill up on foods that are naturally lower in energy density (calories per gram) and are highly satisfying while limiting foods that are highest in fat and sugar and are less satisfying. They can lose weight without ever feeling hungry or deprived, all without weighing, measuring or counting everything they eat.
- Our physical activity support programme, Body Magic, helps members overcome any barriers they face regarding exercise. Members choose when and how to start, setting their own pace and finding activities they enjoy until regular physical activity becomes an unmissable part of their daily routine.
We proudly work with the NHS, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, The Royal College of Midwives, Diabetes UK and others to help shape the future of weight management in the UK and Ireland. We also support Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Irish Cancer Society through fundraising.
We developed and launched our Slimming World Free Food range, available exclusively in Iceland, The Food Warehouse and Dunnes Stores in Ireland, and introduced our Slimming World Kitchen recipe box service. These help members to continue making healthy choices, even when they’re short on time.
For more information about Slimming World’s approach, visit slimmingworld.co.uk or slimmingworld.ie and for more information about Slimming World Kitchen, visit slimmingworldkitchen.co.uk
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