Weighing over 20 stone, Steven Johnson found himself suffering from poor mental health, stomach issues, high blood pressure and on the edge of diabetes. Steven tells us how he was ‘blinkered’ in his way of living but after some honest thinking with himself, has lost half his body weight and cycles 300 miles a week.
The Journey
December 2016, same old, same old, fried breakfast, chippy lunch, late afternoon pub, 7 pints later; home for tea which was mainly a microwave ping meal.
This was my life for many years and of course, took its toll on my body. Weighing in at 20 stone 6lbs, a BMI of 37 and a fat per cent index of 47, I was being treated for hypertension (High plod pressure), stomach issues and on the verge of being diabetic.
My rut certainly was taking its toll, and I was feeling depressed, sad and extremely unhappy but felt comfort in my breakfast, chippy and pub.
20th December 2016 – it was cold dark and I was unhappy. I was sat at home having a talk to myself thinking, “why am I unhappy and not enjoying life”, and eventually came to the conclusion that it was my lifestyle.
This might seem obvious to all who read this but trust me when you’re in this gluttonous sloth driven existence it’s all you know and you become very blinkered.
After eventually realising what the issues were and many hours of beating myself up I decided to do something about it, but how?
First, let’s find some excuses on why I shouldn’t do anything: “obvious it’s near Christmas everyone likes to drink and eat at this festive time so why shouldn’t I?”
Another day passes and again many hours thinking and mulling over the issues. So, to the surprise of my wife and total disbelief to myself I decided, “no pub today”. Yes, it was hard. The next few days continued with no pub. I then decided to text all my pub mates that I was on the waggon for a couple of weeks and wouldn’t be around.
I started to make a plan.
Ok, so I am not drinking alcohol which is a massive step when you have been a regular drinker. What about diet, things seemed easier to mull over without the alcohol so a new diet plan was put in place eating a well-balanced diet of fresh fruit, chicken, fish and vegetables. I decided my breakfast would be porridge with a light lunch of fruit and dinner would be chicken or fish with a selection of veg. Drinks like tea and pop were substituted by water with slices of fresh lemon. I decided I would not eat bread, potatoes, processed food, pasta or any fried food. The weight started to drop.
Now the weight is dropping off, the next stage what about getting fit. This was the big one, I’m not the type of person that enjoys being told what to do and what is good for you, it tends to make me slightly rebellious, that is mainly the reason why I never joined a weight control club but have since regretted that as you will read later.
To get Fit? How, where and when. After many days of thinking about this and walking out of Leigh Leisure Centre twice (and that was only to book an induction), I eventually decided to join the place, an appointment was made for my introduction to the gym.
On the day of the appointment I thought: “why bother?” and believe me I had to push myself to go and confront my fear of being looked at, being laughed at, not being able to do anything, seeing people I know, being embarrassed and just not fitting in general. The induction passed although not without my mentioned fears.
It was decided I should attend a minimum of 3 days a week, with a program mainly around cardio workouts. Every time I went to the gym I struggled, it was hard and I was only doing 2 mins on the exercise bike.
After a couple of weeks, something was happening, it was getting easier, so I increased my cardio and weight exercises both in time and weight. I started to make new friends and for whatever reason, if I missed a day, I really started to miss the gym and couldn’t wait to get back in there.
I have transformed my life and my looks, I have some muscle definition instead of fat and I feel great and happy, my fitness levels are far more than I ever imagined.
I now weigh 10 stone 5lbs, BMI 21, fat per cent index 14, yes, it’s true.
I also do not take any medication for my hypertension or my stomach issues and my blood is back to normal with no diabetic fears.
Though I will say going from a 44-inch waistline to a 30-inch waist has its cost of buying new clothes but this is cushioned by how I feel and yes this is a “lifestyle” having a well-balanced mind and body.
I have had tremendous support from various members of the Leigh Leisure Centre staff in particularly Gus O’Donnell who has been supportive throughout this journey and is always on hand to help with new programmes and advice.
The future plan is to continue to tone and balance my core strength and, I do a lot of cycling and compete in cycling racing at a very high level I race for British masters and Tatton Velo, I cycle 5 times a week and do about 300 miles and recently cycled from lands end to Manchester in 3 days.
I am now hooked on this new lifestyle and have since helped others to lose weight.
Finally, my regret for not joining a weight-loss club, simple; I would have won a holiday if I had lost the weight through a club.
Steve Johnson
Starting 2021 as he means to go on, Steven has made his “own air-conditioned gym” this week.
