A FORMER alcoholic has said he is getting his life back on track after rejoining a slimming group and losing three and a half stone in less than four months.
Lee Griffiths from Malvern had spent years feeling unhappy about his weight but has now been named Malvern Link Slimming World Man of the Year after going from 16 stone to 13 stone in just a matter of months.
Lee’s Slimming World adventure began nine years ago when he weighed 18 stone at the age of 16. Joining the group led to initial success for Lee as he lost five stone within a year but a move to London in 2007 meant he put his weight loss to the back of his mind.
And in-turn Lee’s condition and appearance returned for the worse again as he became heavily dependent on alcohol to get through the day.
His condition got so bad that his doctor gave him an ultimatum saying he would not see his 27th birthday if he kept to his bad habits.
Lee then went on a medical rehabilitation programme and became sober. He then rejoined Slimming World at the start of the year to resolve his diet.
“After rehabilitation I continued to gain weight as for the first time in years I was able to stomach food again and my body craved the sugar I was no longer getting from alcohol,” he said.
“Due to the fact I had spent my entire adult life as an alcoholic I struggled to adjust to day to day life and anxiety and panic attacks became a part of daily living.
“After 18 months sober there was one last part of my lifestyle I needed to address and that was diet. I didn’t want to try any fancy fad diet, I knew what worked and regretted forgetting it many years ago.
“I rejoined slimming world in January and was determined to get my life back. Now I’m at target and for the first time in a very long time I am happy again.
“Slimming World, my consultant and the supportive members of my group have unknowingly given me a piece of my life back and this time I won’t forget slimming world. I am not fully healed but for the time being I am one happy man of the year.”
Lee could reach the semi-finals of the national Slimming World Man of the Year competition which will be held next month. The overall winner will win a luxury holiday in Las Vegas or £3,000 cash.
The Malvern Link Slimming World group meet every Thursday evening at the United Reform Church at 7.30pm. Anyone interested in joining the group should call Chrissy Webb on 07903 266 254 or come along on a Thursday evening.
