A teacher managed to shed a whopping 14st 11lb by tucking into a bread product.
Nick England previously weighed 26st 13lbs, just shy of 27st, and could only fit into size 7XL clothing. Having long struggled with his weight, Nick decided to take action in September 2021 after suffering from indigestion.
The dad-of-two, who said he'd always been a 'big guy', saw his weight increase due to his love of sugary foods and 'addiction' to Coca-Cola. Determined to turn things around, Nick managed to shift nearly half his body weight in just 18 months, and said his baffled former pupils were left unable to recognise him following his extraordinary transformation.
According to Nick, Warburton's Thins proved to be the key to his staggering weight loss, but left him 'scared to death' that the low-calorie sandwich range would be discontinued.
The 6ft 1in food lover started to embrace a low-calorie, low-carb diet, ditching the fizzy pop and increasing his veg intake. In the first three months, he lost more than 3st and reversed his diabetes, and was able to stop taking his medication six months after his diagnosis.
Exactly what happens to our bodies when we cut out meat and dairy for VeganuaryNick, from Wimbledon, southwest London, said: "I'm scared to death of the day that Warburtons decide that Thins aren't something worth keeping in their range anymore. I'm hoping that's a long day off, I swear by them. I think they're brilliant, I always keep my freezer stocked with them."
The teacher, who's now a svelte 12st 2lb, claimed former pupils visiting his school were left 'awestruck' when they realised who it was. Having endured gruelling skin removal surgery round his middle, Nick had an upper body lift scheduled for summer and is looking forward to enjoying a new healthy future with his family.
"Last week I had pupils come back [to school] who hadn't seen me for a few years," he explained. "They came back just to say hi, they're just about to finish their degrees, and they came back to see me.
"One asked me if they could speak to Mr England - they didn't recognise me. Their reaction was everything in terms of being awestruck. One couldn't speak for five minutes."
Nick, who's married to 45-year-old Lesa England, told how he was happy with his size until he got his diabetes diagnosis and realised changes needed to me made.
"At that point I weighed 26st 13lbs, just shy of 27 stone. I've always been a big guy, I've always struggled with my weight ever since I was a kid. I was ostensibly at peace with myself. Everything that had always been a danger or a worry in terms of 'you'll never find love, you'll never get married, you'll never have kids' none of that seemed to transpire for me.
"I wasn't unhappy, I didn't feel like I wanted to lose weight. I knew I was unhealthy, I wasn't stupid, and I had an addiction to Coca Cola that I knew I had but was in denial about. I started suffering from indigestion problems and started to get concerns at my age that it might be the 'big C' or something else I needed to get checked out. The doctor came back with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. I wasn't surprised.
"I knew my time was up and that my revelry had reached a point where I knew I was going to be now dealing with the consequences of a lifestyle that wasn't good for me. It was a wake-up call to once and for all do something about my weight. I intend to be here for my kids' weddings and see my grandchildren and I needed that kick up the bum."
Nick, who is dad to Dax, 18, and 14-year-old Kal, researched what dietary changes were needed - cutting out sugar and embracing a low-calorie diet. "I was never somebody who just ate junk, I enjoy food of all sorts," he said. "[Before] it would have been a nice array of food but there would just have been way too much of it.
"I like loads of vegetables, I like healthier foods as well, so it was more just a case of making sure I ate more of those and less of the bad stuff and I kept the portions to the right size. I'm a massive fan of [toasty maker] CRIMPiTs. They replaced the shop-bought baguette sandwiches I'd have for lunch containing mayonnaise or Marie Rose sauce.
12 smart swaps to lose weight and feel great, from fibre focus to enjoying faves"Warburton Thins are 100 calories and when I saw the CRIMPiT on my Facebook feed I loved the idea.
"If you don't respect the size of the Warburtons Thins and the size of the CRIMPiT and try and fill it too much it won't crimp and will burst on you. If you stick to portion sizes as per packaging you always fill it perfectly and it never comes open."
Regarding the weight loss, Nick said it was all about keeping to a deficit and cutting out sugary items. "Just before Christmas 2021 the diabetic nurse tested my bloods and found they were what a 'normal' person's blood sugar levels should be," he said.
"So I put my diabetes into remission within three months. I'd done what had been suggested and just thought 'this is working, I'm going to keep doing it. The big changes were getting rid of Coca-Cola, I was drinking five cans a day, and portion control. Now I have more energy, feel better within myself and feel more in control.
"As intelligent as I like to think I am, I knew I was doing myself damage with my old lifestyle and yet I didn't really act on it. I feel much happier with what's going into my body now."
Nick's food diary
Before
Breakfast: Two fried eggs on two slices of white toast, loads of butter. Big glass of orange juice
Snack: Sandwich or wrap from canteen or staff room snacks - cake, biscuits, another can of cola
Lunch: Filled baguette, grab bag of crisps, can of cola or a ready meal
Snack: Slice of toast or bag of crisps, or salami slices
Dinner: Home-cooked meals but very large servings e.g. spaghetti bolognese but way too much meat/sauce and spaghetti
Now
Breakfast: Small portion of Cheerios with semi-skimmed milk or 25g of porridge oats with water
Snack: Low-calorie/high protein packet of beef slices or celery and hummus
Lunch: Home-made soup and filled CRIMPit
Dinner: Home-cooked meal but smaller servings e.g. roast chicken dinner with lots of vegetables, sub out the potatoes for an additional vegetable or sausage and mash - mash made out of sweet potatoes
Do you have a weight loss story to share? Email julia.banim@reachplc.com.