Dad 'scared he wouldn't fit on Disneyland rides' started common activity once a week - and dropped 10 stone

A dad-of-two who lost 65kg (10st 2lbs) in one year and went from a size XXXXL to a large by playing football once a week and making healthier food choices has said his confidence has been restored and his transformation means he can finally play with his children again.

Tim Hudson, 42, slowly began to put on weight while working full-time as a sales manager and not exercising as much as he used to – with the 5ft 11.5in dad eventually reaching 161kg (25st 5lbs) in January 2023. That month Tim realised he was “embarrassed” by his appearance, and did not want to leave the house as a result, so he decided to join Man V Fat, a weight-loss programme for men that involves members playing football once a week.

Over the course of the year, Tim regularly went to football sessions, stuck to a diet of around 1,600 calories a day and largely gave up alcohol. Eventually, he was able to go biking and walking with his family again and by December 2023, Tim’s weight had dropped to around 95kg (14st 9lbs) and he now wears size large clothes.

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He is hoping to lose another 6kg with the same “patience” and perseverance. “Now, my family and I go on our bikes and go walking as a family, and I can get involved,” Tim told PA Real Life.

“I remember when we booked a holiday to go to Disneyland Paris and I was scared to death I wouldn’t be able to fit on the rides, and I was scared to go swimming in the pool. But now I can go swimming and go to the play park with the kids and help them with the apparatus and stuff, and just do things that I haven’t been able to do for the last 10 years.

“Over the last four or five years, my confidence took a knock, but now it’s back to normal. I