Stafford man drops more than five stone and reduces meds
Before his weight loss, Graham Bates had his diabetic medication increased and was told he was close to going on medication for blood pressure
A man from Stafford has lost five and a half stone and now needs less diabetes medication.
Graham Bates, pictured above, joined Slimming World in January 2022 to kick start a healthy new year.
The 67-year-old explained: “I decided after Christmas 2021 that I needed to do something about my weight and my fitness.
“I had my diabetic medication increased and the GP had me log my blood pressure readings for a couple of weeks. He told me I was close to going on medication for blood pressure as well.
“I also suffer quite badly with COPD, for which I am on medication such as nebuliser, inhalers etc.
“I always thought me and my wife ate quite healthy and it wasn't until I joined Rising Brook Slimming World that I began to realise where we were going wrong - simple things like never removing fat from meat etc., and portions of higher calorie foods were never weighed.
“So we became more organised with the planning and preparation of meals and used a greater variety of ingredients. We also really enjoyed using the many cookbooks available.”
After losing the first couple of stone, Graham decided to start walking and even tried to increase distances weekly, when previously walking up a small hill was a task.
Speaking about reaching his target weight loss of five and a half stone he said: “I felt brilliant and had loads of energy.
“I also had my diabetic medication reduced and my blood pressure when taken at the GP's practice had come down to 127/74 - bang-on healthy.”
And it’s not just his health that has improved, but also his confidence.
“For 25 plus years we have been going to Llandudno with a large group of people and in all that time with my health issues (COPD, asthma and also having had sepsis through pneumonia) as well as being overweight, I have never been fit enough or confident enough join the group of men to walk over the Great Orme as they did every year.
“I usually waited to meet them at the bottom on their way down, but this time I was determined and confident enough to give it a go.
“I did it easier than I thought and I was absolutely ecstatic to have managed it.”
Graham attends the Slimming World group at Rising Brook Methodist Church on Tuesdays run by Tracy Frost. For more information call Tracy on 07742 457614.
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