At 25, Kurtis Bissett from Swansea has discovered new ways of eating through Slimming World and has lost an amazing 10 stones.
His weight has always scaled up and down but at starting from his 19th year of age it increased to an alarming number. He often go for takeaways and would have huge amount of meals a day.
“Working as a hair stylist was a nightmare. Spending 12 hours a day on my feet was exhausting – every night I’d get home and collapse straight into bed. It was difficult to help other people look their best when I felt unhappy about my own appearance. I also had the health issues you’d expect to find in an elderly man and, with Type 2 diabetes running in both sides of my family, I knew I was putting myself at high risk of developing it, too.He held on to food for comfort and distraction during those times that he started to doubt his sexuality. He believes he was gay but didn’t have the confidence to do anything about it.
“Things came to a head after a family holiday to Gran Canaria. I’d been really looking forward to it, but I couldn’t fit into the plane seat and I struggled with the hot temperatures because I was too embarrassed to remove my t-shirt. After the holiday I confided in my sister, Gemma. ‘I have to do something about my weight – I feel like if I don’t do something now, I might be missing my last chance!’ I made the decision to join Slimming World.
When he finally went to group for the first time he was a bit nervous but everyone welcomed him nicely including his consultant, Amanda.
“I went home and got stuck into cooking things like Slimming World spaghetti bolognese. I never once felt hungry… so I was amazed when I went back the next week to find I’d lost 19lbs!
“As my cooking confidence grew, I no longer relied on takeaways. If I did have a busy week ahead, I’d stock up on the Slimming World meals from Iceland, which are just as convenient and wouldn’t send me off track.”
His weight just kept on dropping. His self-esteem boosted high when customers in the salon started noticing the change in his body. He also started building up his daily exercises. He went for runs and also joined a fitness gym where he spends working out four to five times a week.
“With my growing self-esteem, I started to socialise more and mix with new friends who encouraged me to accept who I really was. In fact, I signed up to a social media network to help find myself a partner. A year ago, I met Gary online and we arranged to go on a date together. I was pretty nervous, even though I was no longer the insecure man I’d once been. Gary helped me realise who I really am and we’ve been together ever since.
He’s become a Slimming World Consultant himself, running his own group in his area, Swansea. He’s never been healthier and happier.
“I’m still shocked when I see my own reflection. I’m unrecognisable from the person I was when I started my journey – not just in the way I look, on the inside as well.”
For more of Kurtis Bissett’s story, see the video below:
Credit: slimmingworld.co.uk
