How Fat Neil set free the thin bloke inside him

AFTER years of being called “Fat Neil” by his friends, it might have been assumed that Neil Richardson had developed a thick skin.

But a painful comment made to his then-two-year-old daughter Josie during a family holiday led the support worker from Barnsley to finally do something about his 26-and-a-half stone bulk.

What followed was a transformation that saw him lose nearly half his body weight – and yesterday be named Slimming World’s Man of the Year 2011.

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Mr Richardson, 30, said: “I’ve always been known as Fat Neil – it wasn’t an insult, it was just who I was.

“I wasn’t really unhappy about my weight, in fact it was probably a consequence of enjoying myself a little too much with lots of nights out with the lads, which usually involved plenty of beer and a kebab on the way home.”

But things were to change on a holiday in Wales last year, when Mr Richardson’s two-year-old daughter asked him to play with her and another little boy.

The toddler was left tearful and upset when the boy refused to play, saying “I don’t want to sit with the big fat man.”

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Mr Richardson said: “Hearing that and seeing my little girl’s face as her eyes welled up with tears was like being hit by a train.

“It was one thing for my weight to affect me, but I realised then that it was affecting my family too and I had to do something.”

Within days of returning home to Barnsley last June, Mr Richardson joined his local Slimming World group and started following a diet that has now seen him lose 12st 10lb.

Always bigger than his schoolfriends, unhealthy eating habits and a lack of exercise saw the father-of-two’s weight creep up slowly over the years, until by the time of the Wales holiday he weighed 26st 5lb.

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Despite his XXXL size, Mr Richardson escaped any serious health problems but he struggled to keep up with Josie, now three, and one-year-old Charlie, and was refused life insurance cover because of his weight.

He said: “There’s not many people that live to a ripe old age at 27st and I knew I needed to do something because I wanted to be around for my kids and to be the best dad I could.”

After returning from Wales last summer, Mr Richardson signed up for Slimming World straight away and, within 24 hours of arriving home, was at a meeting of his local group in Broadway, Barnsley.

“I play in a band so I’m not exactly shy, but walking into that room was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” he said.

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“Slimming clubs are very female environments so it is hard for men to take the plunge, but the consultant put me at ease instantly, chatting away like I’d known her all my life.”

Mr Richardson started following Slimming World’s “food optimising” eating plan, which saw him swap his favourite takeaway curries and kebabs for healthy homemade versions.

“Rather than counting calories or following a strict regime, Slimming World helped me to educate myself about food and it was really empowering that I was making healthy choices for myself rather than being told what to eat,” he said.

“I found I could enjoy all my favourite foods and lose weight just by changing the way I cooked them, like using less oil and extra lean meat – and they tasted better!

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“I still go out and have a beer with my mates too so it’s not affected my social life. I’ve discovered a healthy, balanced way of eating that will fit into my routine for the rest of my life.”

Now, Mr Richardson has been at his target weight of 13st 9lb for six months.

He has taken up running and also won the dad’s egg and spoon race at his daughter’s sports day this year.

He said: “It’s hard to explain how much that meant.

“The year before I went in 50in waist jeans and hid at the back.

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“This year, after I won, my little girl ran up to me and said ‘I’m proud of you, Dad’. They were the best five words I’ve ever heard.”

Mr Richardson’s family and friends have supported him throughout his weight loss.

His wife Jane has lost a stone by eating the same healthy meals, his mother has joined Slimming World herself and his brother Jonathan, a chef, helped him with lots of tips and recipes.

“Even my mates have been behind me, in their own blokey way,” he said.

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“I went to a fancy dress party but had to call in after work so I wasn’t wearing a costume.

“One of my friends spotted me and shouted ‘Look! It’s Fat Neil and he’s come dressed as a thinner bloke!’

“The great thing is that this isn’t a costume, it’s really me and I am that thinner bloke.”

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