Man lost staggering 14 stone after weighing 28 stone as a teen - how he did it
When Nicolas Garrett received the shocking news as a teen that was on his way to a heart attack, it was the motivation he needed to completely transform his life. The now 19-year-old revealed he lost a staggering 14 stone in weight having struggled with portion control and fast food as a teenager.
Nicolas, from south Wales, recalled how his weight problems started when he was aged just five. His diet comprised mainly of fast food, causing him to pile on the pounds.
At the age of 15 he weighed 400 pounds (more than 28 stone), which is around three times what is considered healthy for that age. But his bad habits continued as he fell into a destructive stress cycle and would distract himself with food, estimating he was eating between 4,000 to 6,000 calories a day.
“I absolutely hated myself and deeply wanted to change,” Nicolas said. “I was extremely lonely and felt isolated from the world.”
Nicolas claimed he would eat “anything that I could get my hands on.” At one point he also noticed he could no longer wear a seatbelt in the car, as it wouldn’t fit around him, reports The Mirror.
But a harrowing warning from his GP provided the motivation he needed to make a change. He said: “My doctor told me I was on my way to having a heart attack. That was my wake-up call.”
Luckily he was able to turn his life around, taking up the gym and making the necessary changes to his eating habits. At 18 he started using MyFitnessPal, a popular health and fitness tracking smartphone app, as a way to track his calories.
He recalled: “I didn’t know about it when I began, and I wish that I did.” MyFitnessPal allowed Nicolas to track his calories, maintain a balanced diet, and develop a sustainable relationship with food.
“My life has changed dramatically,” he said. “I feel like a different person and get treated like one. I have so much more energy, confidence, and self-respect. Life has so much more to offer and so many more opportunities than before.”
Since the start of his weight loss journey Nicolas has shed an amazing 200 pounds - or 14 stone. He is also a fitness influencer on social media, sharing his story via Instagram and YouTube to inspire others.
According to the NHS, it's estimated that around one in every four adults and around one in every five children aged 10 to 11 are living with obesity in the UK.
It is classed as a serious health condition that increases your chances of complications such as:
Type 2 diabetes
Coronary heart disease
Some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and bowel cancer
Stroke.
The health body claims that the best way to treat obesity is to eat a healthy reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly.
To do this, you can:
Eat a balanced calorie-controlled diet as recommended by a GP or weight loss management health professional (such as a dietitian)
Take up activities such as fast walking, jogging, swimming or tennis for 150 to 300 minutes (2.5 to five hours) a week.
If you are concerned about your weight you should speak to your GP.