I’ve struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember, and was bullied for being overweight at school. I’ve always been a yo-yo dieter, but I rarely got to a weight that I was comfortable with. I’m a comfort eater, and I rely on food to make me feel better. 

At my highest weight – 23st 3½lbs (147kg) – I developed sleep apnoea, and this made every night unbearable for me and my partner Tamsin. At times I’d stop breathing, which was really scary – and I don't know how she ever put up with my snoring! Every morning, I’d wake up more tired than when I went to bed, and I’d regularly fall asleep in team meetings at work. And as a sports fan, knowing that I couldn't take part in any of the things I loved impacted my mental health. 

There were a few factors that contributed to my decision to lose weight, such as not being able to look at photos of myself and being unable to walk my dog without getting out of breath. One moment that stands out, though, is when I was invited to my nephew’s stag do at Thorpe Park, in Surrey.

As an adrenaline junkie, I was so excited for the trip, and I hadn’t really considered the barriers that weighing more than 20st could cause. After we’d queued for one of the main roller coasters, Stealth, I sat in my seat and couldn’t get the shoulder restraint down. Two members of staff tried to help, but it just wouldn’t secure. They had to release everyone’s seat restraints, and then I had to get off and walk past everybody in the queue. I’d never felt such shame or embarrassment in my life, and it made me realise I needed to do something about it. 

I’d been a Slimming World member in the past, and lost 7st before completing a sponsored walk for charity. However, I stopped going to group and reverted to my old unhealthy eating habits, so I put the weight back on – and then some. When I rejoined Slimming World in January 2023, my mindset was different. I didn’t want to lose weight for an upcoming event, I wanted to transform my health and lifestyle for good. 

My Consultant, Beckie, and my fellow group members have played an incredibly important part in my weight loss journey. They provide invaluable support on the weeks I need it most and celebrate with me when I hit key milestones. I now weigh 11st 12lbs (75kg) and, with the support of my group, I’ll be maintaining this weight for ever! 

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Before joining Slimming World, I relied on takeaways and shop-bought meal deals to get me through the day. Now I cook from scratch, enjoying my favourite meals – like chilli, and pizza-topped chicken with chips and salad. And I use the lunch bowls from the Slimming World Free Food range if I’m on the go. 

Despite my love of sport, I wasn’t active at all before I joined Slimming World – I struggled to walk the dog around the block without being in significant pain. I started following Slimming World’s physical activity programme, Body Magic, to build up my walking stamina. I progressed from short walks to tackling long walks with ease – and then I began running. I soon started attending Parkrun and entering running events, always chasing a personal best.  

Running’s now part of my weekly routine, and I’m thrilled to be doing the London Marathon as one of the Slimming World 2025 team.  

I’ll be running for Cancer Research UK, in memory of my dad, who sadly passed away last year. I completed Race for Life in 2024 and raised more than £1,000 – and I’m keen to take any opportunity to raise further funds for them, given the importance of the work they do. 

You can find Craig’s fundraising page here. 

Weight loss will vary according to your individual circumstances and how much weight you have to lose.