Dad who was told to lose weight on Christmas Day ‘looking forward’ to festive season after losing over 4st

A dad-of-five who was told to lose weight on Christmas Day has shed over 4st and says he is now able to run around in the park with his children, something he says he could not have done before his weight loss.

Jonny Ross, 46, a marketing director, says he was struggling with back pain and high blood pressure when his father-in-law made a comment about his weight last Christmas, which he says felt “horrible to hear”.

Making it his New Year’s resolution to shift the pounds, Jonny has now lost 4st 4lb and is looking forward to treating himself in moderation this Christmas.

Jonny, who lives in Leeds with his wife, Charlotte, 38, a veterinary assistant, and their five children, Ethan, 18, Zack, 17, Aiden, 16, Isobel, nine, and Emelia, six, said: “The comment was quite matter of fact but it gave me the push I needed.

“It’s taken me seven months to hit my goal weight and I feel great, I have loads of energy and can even keep up with the kids.”

Jonny began his weight loss journey after Christmas last year, starting off at 17st 10lb.

He said: “Losing weight had been on my mind for a while, I was having problems with my back and I was on tablets for my blood pressure.

“But it was a comment that my father-in-law made on Christmas Day that struck a chord with me. He’s always been very matter of fact and he just bluntly said to me that I needed to think about losing weight.

“It felt horrible to hear but I know he meant well and it reminded me that I had a problem with my eating. I took it very well and knew that it was only meant with good intention.”

• Breakfast – bowl of cereal and two slices of toast

• Snack – pasty and crisps

• Lunch – sandwich, crisps and chocolate

• Dinner – chicken and vegetables or pasta bake

• Snack – family bag of crisps, ice cream, cake and biscuits

He added: “Then, on December 30, I saw an advert for the weight loss app Noom on Facebook and decided to download it.”

Jonny made it his New Year’s resolution to lose four stone.

He said: “For me, the run up to Christmas started at Halloween so I would have that ‘treat yourself’ mindset for more than two months.

“I used to binge eat snacks in the evenings so I knew I had to cut all of that out.

“I would also drink about three to four cans of Coke a day, which I swapped for water.

“The app didn’t just give me a weight loss plan and tips, it also teaches you about the psychology behind your eating habits.

“It was really clever and useful to understand why I ate the way I did and how I can change my relationship with food.

“The way Noom works really resonated with me. It acted as a support system and I had a coach that helped give me the tools I needed to make the changes for myself.”

Over the next seven months, Jonny lost 4st 4lb – he now weighs 13st 6lb.

• Breakfast – smoothie with chia seeds, goji berries and walnuts

• Lunch – tuna or chicken salad

• Dinner – fish or chicken with vegetables and salad

• Snack – fruit and occasionally a small amount of ice cream

He said: “I’ve been practising integrating some mindfulness into everything, including eating, because it makes a big difference.

“The weight loss has been quite surprising to friends and family, and I’ve had a lot of nice comments about it, but the most important impact has been my confidence and how I feel about myself.

“My energy levels are so much higher and I’m able to run around and play football in the park with the kids now which makes a big difference.

“Over the summer, I went running with them too.”

And Jonny says he’ll be treating himself in moderation this Christmas.

He said: “You have to be able to enjoy yourself and I’ll still enjoy Christmas this year. There’s nothing wrong with having a packet of crisps or eating some chocolate, it’s about how much you have.

“This year, I don’t feel the urge and need to buy 20 boxes of Celebrations and finish them in the first week of December. Instead, I’ve only had a handful of chocolate so far, if that.”

Jonny is also looking forward to sitting down to Christmas dinner without concerned comments from family members this year.

He said: “My father-in-law hasn’t mentioned my weight since but I’m sure he’ll be taking credit secretly.”

He added: “The comment gave me the push to finally get healthier after it had been preying on my mind for a long time.

“I feel fantastic and I’m really looking forward to celebrating with family this Christmas.

“My overall outlook on life has changed. I appreciate taking a break and absorbing the nature around me.

“Sometimes I forget to take time to do this, but I now feel encouraged to do so more often, which has been a real positive for my mental wellbeing.”