Man who tucked into kebabs as a late night snack sheds half his body weight after trip to Disney

A self-confessed "Disney nerd" was devastated when he took a trip to Orlando but couldn't fit on the theme park rides.

Ben Clark, 35, weighed more than 30 stone and had a 48 to 50 inch waist when he flew to Florida in September 2022. He said being unable to board many of the rides was the wakeup call he needed.

Ben, who is a level manager at the Co-Op Live, travelled to Poland for gastric sleeve surgery in October 2022. It cost him £5,000, including the procedure, flights, and medication.

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Since then, he has lost a huge 16 and a half stone, and can now fit on rides with ease. He has even landed his dream role as Prince Charming in Cinderella at the Taylor Hall at St Lawrence College, Ramsgate, Kent.

Ben, originally from Margate, said: "I have been back on stage in three amateur shows since and finally played the role of Prince Charming. The weight loss has given me confidence and it makes it easier. I would not have been able to do this before."

Ben described the operation as "painful" and the need to diet before and after as "hard work". The surgery removed two thirds of his stomach, restricting the amount he needs to eat to feel full.

He now weighs 12st 9lbs and can wear a waist size of 30 to 32 inches.

Ben said: "A lot of people think it is the easy way out but you still have to do a lot of work after. The stomach is still a muscle and you can stretch it, so for eight weeks after you are on a very strict diet."

Post-surgery, Ben said his diet has completely changed but he still employs hacks to trick himself into keeping disciplined.

He said: "My biggest thing was I'd easily drink two plus litres of fizzy drink a day. I still treat myself to chocolate or sweets or what I want but it's in small quantities and once in a blue moon.

“I can eat anything but only small amounts, like I will have a small chicken breast and some vegetables and be full. Instead of using a normal plate, I will use a side plate.

"It still looks like a full meal that way."

When Ben was younger, he was involved in musical theatre as a dancer and later as a dance teacher, and had always longed to return to the craft, and his body transformation has allowed him to do so.

Ben also said that the weight loss journey had made him “a lot happier as a person” and inspired him to change careers and move to Manchester. He now intends to save money both for procedures to have loose skin removed and for a trip to Florida.

He said: "I really want to have the chance to do the trip again and do those rides and experience Florida as a slimmer person."

Ben's diet before:

• Breakfast - nothing

• Lunch - nothing

• Mid afternoon snack - a cake or chocolate bar

• Dinner - a fully cooked dinner portion for two, a roast

• Late night snack - a take away - kebab, chips and chicken wings or a KFC or a large amount of McDonalds

• Drinks - two litres of fizzy drink a day

His diet now:

• Breakfast - protein porridge or overnight oats

• Mid morning snack - boiled egg or protein bar / shake

• Lunch - chicken breast (flavoured) or a tin of tuna

• Afternoon snack - nuts or hummus or protein bar / shake

• Dinner - a heavy protein meal but side plate size

• Drinks - water or squash, decaf coffee

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