This is more than just a weight-loss story—it’s a journey of self-worth, resilience, and reflection, and I felt it deserves a wider platform.
From Fat Shaming to Freedom: My Weight Loss Story and Why We All Need to Do Better
Originally written December 2021
What’s in a Name?
I was christened Jamie, but over the years I’ve answered to a litany of other names—none of them particularly flattering. Most were some variation of “fat”:
Fatty. Porky. Lardy. Chunky. Chubby. Flabby. Blubber guts. Beefy. Plump. Rotund. Dumpy. Round.
Sometimes those words were wrapped in expletives. You can use your imagination.
It wasn’t banter. It was bullying.
And here’s the thing: for years, it felt socially acceptable. It wasn’t racism. It wasn’t homophobia. It wasn’t sexism. It was “just a joke.” Just another fatty getting roasted. Apparently, we’re meant to be bubbly, always up for a laugh, happy to be the punchline. Well, we’re not.
What Is Bullying?
The definition is clear:
“The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another, where there’s a power imbalance.”
It can happen face-to-face or online. The key elements?
- Hurtful
- Repetitive
- Power Imbalance
- Intentional
It fits. I lived it. And for those still calling me Roland from Grange Hill? I’m 50+ years old. It was never funny. It still isn’t.
How I Got Here
I’ve always been big. But I became obese—really obese—over the past 10 years. I tipped the scales at 22 stone, 12 pounds (320 lbs) at just 5’8″ tall.
I wasn’t doing anything about it. Always a reason to delay:
“After the weekend.”
“After the party.”
“After Christmas.”
Then COVID hit. And the news was relentless:
“Overweight man, 50+, dies with COVID complications.”
That could be me. And I wasn’t ready to go. I had more to do.
It was now or never. (Yes, I sang it in Elvis’s voice too.)
My Rock Bottom
Let’s talk honestly about how bad it got.
A Day in the Life (Pre-Weight Loss):
Breakfast:
- Bowl of cereal (buried under sugar) OR
- 4 slices of toast with marg & Marmite (cold, the proper way)
- Full English at weekends
- + Sometimes a McDonald’s Double Sausage McMuffin with Hash Brown on top.
Lunch:
- 4 rounds of meat-filled bread
- 2 packets of crisps
- Twix
- Possibly a pie or pasty on top
Snacks at Work:
- Up to 6 bags of Walker’s crisps
- Biscuits, cakes, sweets – whatever was there
- Chocolate digestives were a weakness – never just two
Drinks:
- 2 litres of Pepsi… every night. “Can’t leave it. It’ll go flat.”
- Beer: 12 pints on a night out, followed by takeaway
- Next morning: Massive fry-up again
Takeaways:
- 3–4 times a week.
JustEat knew me by name.
I was in a bad way. Short walks wiped me out. I was eating and drinking myself into the ground.
The Turning Point: January 17th, 2021
We’d just moved house. I stepped on the scales.
22 stone, 12 pounds.
I gave myself one year to lose 5 stone. This was the last chance saloon.
The Plan
No fads. No shakes-only crash diets. I blended the best bits of Slimming World, calorie counting, and common sense.
- Shakes for breakfast
- Slimming World meals at night
- Low-cal snacks (99 cal bars, fruit, zero crisps!)
- No Pepsi (still miss it…)
- Water and portion control became my best mates
I didn’t cut out everything. I adapted. And I stuck to it.
The Results
| Milestone | Date Achieved |
|---|---|
| 1st stone lost | Day 13 |
| 2nd stone | Day 41 |
| 3rd stone | Day 76 |
| 4th stone | 30 May 2021 |
| 5 stone | 8 August 2021 |
| 6 stone | 16 October 2021 |
My goal is 7 stone 2 pounds (100 lbs). I’m almost there.
Exercise = Progress
For my birthday in April, I bought a hybrid road/trek bike. Started with 6-mile rides. Then 15. Then 25.
My best? 40 miles.
Over 1,100 miles cycled since April. Game-changer.
What I’ve Gained From What I’ve Lost
- Confidence
- Mobility
- Compliments (finally)
- Control
But the biggest compliment of all?
“You’ve inspired me to lose weight.”
That makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Reflection & Responsibility
This isn’t a holier-than-thou sermon. I’ve said unkind things in my time. But I’ve grown up. I know better now.
Banter is not an excuse for cruelty.
It’s time we all learned the difference.
Final Thoughts
To anyone out there feeling stuck:
If I can do this, you can. Whether it’s 1 pound or 100, you just need a plan, some willpower, and support. Thanks to my wife, family, and friends—your backing means everything. And if this post helps one person take that first step, then every word has been worth writing.
Thanks for reading. Please share. Let’s do better, together.
— Verso
December 2021
Footnote: Since publication I’ve had a blip and put three stone back on. It will come off. I promise
