John meets football star after scoring 9st 11.5lbs weight loss
A 67-year-old slimmer from Midhurst has hit the back of the net after reaching the semi finals of a competition to find the U and Ireland’s top male slimmers, where he met international football star John zarnes. John Osborne was one of 43 men to win a place at the semi-finals of SlimmingWorld’s Man of the Year 2018 competition after losing an impressive 9st 11.5lbs. It was there that he was congratulated by the former Liverpool, Watford and England hero.
John Osborne, Julie Noonan SlimmingWorld and International Football Star John Barnes
John, who slimmed from 21st 0lbs to 11st 2.5lbs at the Folkestone Slimming World group, believes it can be hard for men to admit that they need help to lose weight, and that it is especially difficult for them to walk through the doors of a slimming club for the first time. John says: “I joined Slimming World thanks to the encouragement of my son-in-law Trevor. I’m so glad I had the courage to walk through those doors. In fact, I haven’t looked back since!”
Slimming World’s recent Machobesity Report’*, revealed that while 95% of men want to lose weight, mainly for health reasons, men typically keep weight worries to themselves for more than six years on average. Once they set their mind to it though, men do seem to be good at slimming down. Men lose an impressive 5.7% of their body weight in three months at Slimming World, while women on average lose 4.3%.
John continues: “I think I had a really negative view of weight loss before I joined Slimming World, I thought I’d be constantly hungry and have to give up all of my favourite foods. I couldn’t have been more wrong though, I eat just as much as before, if not more. The beauty of Slimming World is that I can fill up on all of my favourite foods and lose weight without depriving myself. Steak and chips, cooked breakfasts and curries are all still on the menu, I’ve just had to make some simple swaps like ditching the olive oil or butter in favour of low-calorie cooking spray and trimming the fat off of meat. “Even if I was the only bloke in the room, it wouldn’t matter because everyone is there for the same reason and it’s such a supportive and friendly environment. All the hints, tips and recipes you pick up in group are really helpful too.
John before his weight loss success
“Losing weight has even encouraged me to think about how active I am too, so I now go to the gym three times a week. I’m looking into taking up karate again too, which was my passion in my younger years. Getting to meet John was great as well, I never knew losing weight would have this many perks!”
John, who has now hung up his football boots to become a successful pundit, was blown away by the achievements of the men he met at the competition. He says: “As a footballer, health and fitness has formed a huge part of my life, so I know how much effort and dedication it can take to stay fit and healthy – both mentally and physically. It was a pleasure to meet John – I can’t believe his transformation, he doesn’t look like the same bloke! “I think a lot of men find it really difficult to admit they have a problem with something and then seek the help they need to fix it. It’s not an easy thing to do so John has my utmost respect. I have to say the food he makes looks delicious too – I might have to have a go at a few recipes myself!”
Julie Noonan who runs the Folkestone group that John attends, says she is very proud of her super slimmer. She says: “A lot of men think that slimming clubs are female-only ones, so John is living proof that this isn’t the case. In fact, there are now 60,000 men attending Slimming World groups, which goes to show that men need just as much support as women to slim down and improve their health. Slimming World works for everyone, so I hope John inspires lots of other people in Folkestone and Midhurst – male or female – who’d like to lose weight to take that step and join our group at The Grand Hotel or call me on 07753 351962.”
Unfortunately John was not the overall winner of the competition. Slimming World’s Man of the Year 2018 was won by ‘ave Lancaster, from Warwickshire, who had a weight loss of 20st 8½lbs.
*Slimming World’s Machobesity Report, 2016:
http://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/downloads/machobesity-report.pdf PAGE 38 SHEPWAY & CANTERBURY ADVERTISER
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