Chef who struggled to control himself around food loses 15st eating one meal a day
- 2 days ago
A chef who struggled to control himself around food lost 15 stone in 16 months by eating just one meal a day.
Simon Parnell, 42, tipped the scales at 35 stone at his heaviest and struggled to squeeze into a size 8XL.
He used to gorge on crisps, pastries and fizzy drinks but decided to make a change when he realised he couldn't get through a work shift without his legs swelling up - often spending the next day in extreme pain.
Simon thought he'd only be able to shed the weight by getting gastric band surgery but after realising there was a two year wait he decided to give it a go naturally.
He joined his friend, Ben Turner, 42, on a walk one morning - and the pair made a pact to meet at 6am each day to walk together.
Simon started fasting and has now switched to healthy home-cooked foods such as chicken and vegetables.
He was amazed when the weight fell off him and is now a slender 19st 11lbs, size 2XL, and "feels a million dollars". He says his daughter, Hatty, 14, is "so so proud" of her dad.
Simon, from St Margaret's, Kent, said: "My weight had got worse and worse.
"I'd got really big over time and found it hard to do everything, from putting on my socks to going out to work.
"I became completely dedicated to walking.
"I started walking every day, and was gradually able to walk further and faster.
"Now I feel something so unimaginable, so happy, so healthy, this is what I've wanted all my life.
"I've dreamed and pictured this and I'm living my best life. I've waited a life time to get where I am, even though I haven't finished.
"My daughter thought I wouldn't get as far as I have done - she is so so proud of me and has talked about it so many times."
Simon had always struggled with his weight and would eat four slices of toast every morning, binge on unhealthy snacks throughout the day, and go through a few bottles of beer every evening.
His favourite foods were meal deals, sweets, chocolates and fizzy drinks.
He said: "My car would just be filled with at least half a black sack worth of wrappers each week.
"I’d just end up in a complete hole.
"At the end of the day, I just couldn't move - my body was in shut down."
Simon's work as a chef required him to stand for long periods of time but he could barely get through a shift without sitting down a lot throughout the day.
He also often ended the day with swollen legs and would be in pain the whole next day.
Simon said: "I was worried about my health.
"I wasn’t happy with how I looked and I thought gastric surgery was the only way to lose weight.
"However, when I was told how long the wait for hospital bed space was, I made the decision to start my own weight loss journey."
In January 2023, Simon’s friend, Ben, invited him for a morning walk. They met at 6am and walked three kilometres - which left Simon feeling "knackered".
The two men made a pact to meet there every morning for a month to walk together - regardless of the weather or any other factors.
Simon Parnell, 42, tipped the scales at 35 stone at his heaviest and struggled to squeeze into a size 8XL.
He used to gorge on crisps, pastries and fizzy drinks but decided to make a change when he realised he couldn't get through a work shift without his legs swelling up - often spending the next day in extreme pain.
Simon thought he'd only be able to shed the weight by getting gastric band surgery but after realising there was a two year wait he decided to give it a go naturally.
He joined his friend, Ben Turner, 42, on a walk one morning - and the pair made a pact to meet at 6am each day to walk together.
Simon started fasting and has now switched to healthy home-cooked foods such as chicken and vegetables.
He was amazed when the weight fell off him and is now a slender 19st 11lbs, size 2XL, and "feels a million dollars". He says his daughter, Hatty, 14, is "so so proud" of her dad.
Simon, from St Margaret's, Kent, said: "My weight had got worse and worse.
"I'd got really big over time and found it hard to do everything, from putting on my socks to going out to work.
"I became completely dedicated to walking.
"I started walking every day, and was gradually able to walk further and faster.
"Now I feel something so unimaginable, so happy, so healthy, this is what I've wanted all my life.
"I've dreamed and pictured this and I'm living my best life. I've waited a life time to get where I am, even though I haven't finished.
"My daughter thought I wouldn't get as far as I have done - she is so so proud of me and has talked about it so many times."
Simon had always struggled with his weight and would eat four slices of toast every morning, binge on unhealthy snacks throughout the day, and go through a few bottles of beer every evening.
His favourite foods were meal deals, sweets, chocolates and fizzy drinks.
He said: "My car would just be filled with at least half a black sack worth of wrappers each week.
"I’d just end up in a complete hole.
"At the end of the day, I just couldn't move - my body was in shut down."
Simon's work as a chef required him to stand for long periods of time but he could barely get through a shift without sitting down a lot throughout the day.
He also often ended the day with swollen legs and would be in pain the whole next day.
Simon said: "I was worried about my health.
"I wasn’t happy with how I looked and I thought gastric surgery was the only way to lose weight.
"However, when I was told how long the wait for hospital bed space was, I made the decision to start my own weight loss journey."
In January 2023, Simon’s friend, Ben, invited him for a morning walk. They met at 6am and walked three kilometres - which left Simon feeling "knackered".
The two men made a pact to meet there every morning for a month to walk together - regardless of the weather or any other factors.