Latest news with #SimonFurness
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Man Loses 110 Pounds With 1 'Simple' Change After Breaking Chair in Public Place
For years, Simon Furness lived on a steady diet of takeout, sugar, and late-night orders from his phone. Weighing 350 pounds, the 57-year-old from Northwich, England, battled type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and depression. But it wasn't a health scare that finally pushed him to make a change It was a broken chair. Daily Mail reported that in October 2024, Furness was sitting in a dentist's office when the chair beneath him gave out, sending him crashing to the floor and injuring his hand on the twisted metal. 'I felt terrible and disgusted,' he said. 'It was a real wake-up call.' Until that point, Furness's eating habits were out of control. His regular order included a special curry with fried rice, a massive portion of chips, and often a starter—on top of daily staples like half a loaf of bread, cans of soup, candy, kebab meat, and a full pizza. He estimates he spent around $150 a week on takeout alone. 'I didn't go to bed for three years,' he said, describing how he slept upright in his chair because of his health issues. 'All the money I had was going on food.' He tried dieting before—Weight Watchers, Slimming World—but nothing stuck. That changed when he signed up for a meal delivery service, Mindful Chef. For the first time, something clicked. 'It's just been a total diet change,' he said. Breakfast is now fruit. Lunch is a salad wrap. Dinner is a healthy, balanced meal. Gone are the massive portions and constant takeout orders. Eight months later, Furness has lost 112 pounds, and he's not done yet. He's aiming to hit around 220 pounds, a goal that feels within reach for the first time in years. But the biggest win? Getting his life back. He's no longer a spectator in his own story. 'I'm doing proper things like a granddad should do,' he said of spending more active time with his seven grandchildren. 'I'm loving it.'Man Loses 110 Pounds With 1 'Simple' Change After Breaking Chair in Public Place first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 16, 2025
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Man, 57, who spent £100-a-day on takeaways unrecognisable after losing 8 stone without weight loss jabs
As the chair collapsed beneath him, 25-stone Simon Furness wasn't sure what hurt more—his pride, or his finger, which was trapped inside the seat's mangled metal frame. Gritting his teeth through the humiliation and shame, after he struggled to get back to his feet he made himself a solemn vow, he would kick his £5,000-a-year addiction to Chinese takeaways, and be the slim and active family man he'd always dreamed of being. That was just eight months ago, and since then the 57-year-old has shed an incredible EIGHT STONE, all without weight loss jabs. Instead, the former Morrison's truck loader overhauled his diet, swapping his beloved greasy takeaways for a healthy meal prepping service. At his heaviest, Mr Furness, 57, from Northwich in Cheshire, weighed 25 stone and struggled to fit into 5XL t-shirts. Due to his weight, he was unable to spend quality time with his grandchildren, but it was the horror of causing a chair in his dentist's waiting room to collapse in October 2024 which spurred him to make a change. He said: 'Whenever I see old videos and pictures of myself, it repulses me', adding that thinking about the chair incident, which left him with a painful finger injury, leaves him feeling 'terrible' and 'disgusted'. Mr Furness estimates he spent £5,000 per annum—roughly £96-a-week—on his takeaway addiction. He recalls: 'I'd always have a special curry with special fried rice plus a big bag portion of chips. I'd probably have a starter too.' His addiction totally overtook his life, and trapped him inside. 'I didn't go to bed for three years - I was sleeping in my chair,' he said. 'I was depressed. All the money I had was all going on food, on takeaways. 'It was at least £20 a night, £100 a week. I would get them five times a week. They were so easy. 'Because I wasn't going out anywhere, I would sit in the chair and order off my phone to get them delivered.' But the silvery foil tubs packed with fragrant curry, rice and chips wasn't the only unhealthy food he was dialling in to gorge on. Alongside his five Chinese takeaways a week, his typical daily diet included half a loaf of bread, two large tins of soup, kebab meat, a 12-inch pizza and three packs of Haribo sweets. His poor diet and excess weight left him feeling depressed, and caused him to develop type two diabetes and severe sleep apnoea. This condition—commonly diagnosed in people who are overweight and obese—is where your breathing stops while sleeping. Mr Furness claims his breathing would stop 104 times an hour due to his weight. Because of his size, he was forced to in an armchair at night for three years, the same spot he ordered his regular deliveries. Now, following a menu from Mindful Chef, he starts the day with two to three apples and a sweet tangerine for breakfast, a wrap with salad for lunch, and a nutrient-dense and filling dinner. He has also ditched his three bags of Haribo sweets for an apple as a healthy snack when he feels hungry. Now the grandfather is on track to reach his target weight of 16st after turning his life around He said: 'I'd tried Slimming World, Weight Watchers, tried everything but couldn't get on with it. With this one, for some reason, it just sunk in. 'Now I go on days with my seven grandkids—proper things like a grandad should do. I'm loving it. 'I know everyone needs a little treat every now and again—I do myself on a Friday. But in the past, I just ate whatever I wanted and paid for it.' He added: 'Lynda, the owner, was so encouraging. The talks she gives are amazing and it really got through to me and opened my eyes. 'She's made me think about what I eat before I eat it. It's just been a total diet change.' Last month GPs were allowed to prescribe weight loss medications for the first time in a bid to tackle the UK's obesity crisis. It is estimated 1.5million people across the country are taking weight loss drugs through the NHS or private prescriptions. But a growing number of experts have raised the alarm over potentially dangerous side effects of the jabs. So far, more than 100 deaths in Britain have been linked to the jabs, latest data revealed. Health officials confirmed at least ten people in the UK using the injections had died from pancreatitis—a life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. In response, the Medicines and healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are investigating if the condition is more likely to strike some patients with specific genes. It comes just months after the death of 58-year-old Scottish nurse Susan McGowan who suffered multiple organ failure, septic shock and pancreatitis after just two doses of Mounjaro—the so-called 'King Kong' of weight loss jabs. Ms McGowan is currently the only named fatality linked to the jabs in the UK. However, medics have told of a wave young women requiring life-saving A&E treatment after obtaining the drugs privately from online pharmacies. In the majority of these cases, the victims had no weight-related health problems but were using the drugs for cosmetic reasons. Some were not even overweight.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dad so big he couldn't go to bed for 3 years loses 8st after trip to dentist
A dad who weighed 25 stone and spent more than £5,000 a year on takeaways has revealed the mortifying moment that changed his life. Simon Furness says his food addiction became so bad he couldn't even walk to his bed and slept upright on his living room chair for three years. But his wake-up call finally came when a chair he was sitting on at the dentist snapped beneath him, leaving him feeling 'embarrassed and disgusted'. 'I got into a rut where I just gave up and I never went out the house or anything,' said Simon, 57. 'I didn't go to bed for three years - I was sleeping in my chair. I was depressed. All the money I had was all going on food, on takeaways. It was at least £20 a night, £100 a week. I would get them five times a week. They were so easy. READ MORE: New Marks and Spencer Outlet store opens with 50% off original prices READ MORE: Go in to this house and you'll be arrested 'Because I wasn't going out anywhere, I would sit in the chair and order off my phone to get them delivered. I was addicted to Chinese takeaways – I'd always have a special curry with special fried rice plus a big portion of chips. I'd probably have a starter too. Whenever I see old videos and pictures of myself, it repulses me.' At his heaviest, Simon tipped the scales at 25 stone and could fit into 5XL T-shirts. But it wasn't just his mental health that suffered. The 57 year old's unhealthy habits led to serious health issues, including type 2 diabetes and severe sleep apnea where he stopped breathing 104 times an hour. Alongside his five takeaways a week, his typical daily diet included half a loaf of bread alongside two large tins of soup, kebab meat, a 12in pizza and three packs of Haribo. But his much-needed reality check came during a routine visit to the dentist. Simon, from Marston, Northwich, said: 'I was sat in the waiting room and the chair I was sitting on collapsed. I trapped my finger – that was so embarrassing. It made me feel terrible. I was disgusted; I just felt so low. The doctor even put me on antidepressants. 'Doctors even said I had one of the worst sleep apnea cases they had ever seen. It all affected me that badly with my kids and grandkids – I was no good to them at all.' Simon says his unhealthy lifestyle finally changed when his wife joined a local slimming group, Beeweighed, and encouraged him to try it too. The former Morrison's truck loader said: 'I tried Slimming World, Weight Watchers, tried everything but just couldn't get on with it. 'With this one, for some reason, it just sunk in. Lynda, the owner, was so encouraging. The talks she gives are amazing and it really got through to me and opened my eyes. She's made me think about what I eat, before I eat it. 'It's just been a total diet change. I signed up in October 2024 and the rest is history.' Simon has gone on to lose eight stone – and reversed his sleep apnoea. Now weighing 17st 1lb, he hopes to reach his target weight of 16 stone soon. Simon said: 'Before, I couldn't move out of my chair. Now I go on days out with my seven grandkids – proper things like a grandad should do. I'm loving it. 'I know everyone needs a little treat every now and again – I do myself on a Friday. But in the past, I just ate whatever I wanted and I paid for it. It's brilliant. I've given away all my old clothes to the charity shop. I feel like a new person.'
The Sun
06-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Depressed 5XL dad, 57, so fat he stopped breathing 104 times an hour shares simple secret to 8st weight loss
FOR three years, Simon Furness slept upright in a chair in his living room. At 25st, he was too fat to climb the stairs to his bed after spending £5,000 a year on takeaways. But even the fact he stopped breathing 104 times an hour wasn't the wake-up call he needed to transform his waistline - and his health. 11 11 Simon, 57, tells Sun Health: 'I got into a rut where I just gave up; I never left the house or anything. 'I didn't go to bed for three years - I was sleeping in my chair. 'Whenever I see old videos and pictures of myself, it repulses me. 'I was depressed. All the money I had was all going on food, on takeaways. 'It was at least £20 a night, £100 a week. I would get them five times a week. They were so easy. 'Because I wasn't going out anywhere, I would sit in the chair and order off my phone to get them delivered. 'I was addicted to Chinese food – I'd always have a special curry with special fried rice, plus a big portion of chips. I'd probably have a starter too." At his heaviest, Simon tipped the scales at 25st and wore 5XL t-shirts. His unhealthy habits led to serious health issues, including type 2 diabetes and severe sleep apnoea, which caused him to stop breathing 104 times an hour. Alongside his five takeaways a week, Simon's typical daily diet included half a loaf of bread with two large tins of soup, kebab meat, a 12in pizza and three share-bags of Haribo. He ate like this for years, until a much-needed reality check during a routine visit to the dentist. Simon, from Marston, Cheshire, says: 'I was sitting in the waiting room and the chair collapsed beneath me. 'I trapped my finger – that was so embarrassing. 'It made me feel terrible. I was disgusted; I just felt so low. The doctor even put me on antidepressants. 'Doctors then told me I had one of the worst cases of sleep apnoea they had ever seen. 'It all affected me. I was no good to my kids or grandkids at all.' Simon says his lifestyle finally changed when his wife Jo joined a local slimming group, Beeweighed, and encouraged him to try it too. The retired Morrison's truck loader says: 'I did Slimming World, Weight Watchers, I tried everything, but I just couldn't get on with any of them. 'With this one, for some reason, it just sunk in. 'Lynda, the owner, was so encouraging. The talks she gives are amazing and it really got through to me and opened my eyes. 'She's made me think about what I eat, before I eat it. 'It's just been a total diet change. 'I signed up in October 2024 and the rest is history.' Simon's diet: before and after Simon's old diet: Breakfast – a big bowl full of Alpen muesli with a pint of full-fat milk. Lunch – 2 tins of meatballs, half a loaf of bread and butter, 2 tins of cream of tomato soup. Snack – 3 bags of Haribo. Dinner – large kebab meat and chips, a large portion of chicken wings, burgers, 12in pizza. Simon's new diet: Breakfast – 2 apples and 1 sweet tangerine. Lunch – a wrap with salad. Snack – no snacking; or maybe an apple. Dinner – meals delivered each week from Mindful Chef. Mindful Chef offers meal kits and is similar to Hello Fresh and Gousto. It supplies subscribers with recipe kit boxes, which include ready-measured, fresh ingredients and easy-to-follow healthy recipes. They offer a range of 800 recipes, all of which are gluten free and contain no "stodgy carbs" making them the "perfect accompaniment to a healthy lifestyle", according to the website. By measuring out ingredients, the meal kits help people watching their calorie-intake, but controlling portion size. Simon has gone on to lose a whopping 8st – and 'reversed' his sleep apnoea. He puts his success down to the warm and supportive welcome he received at Beeweighed. The programme begins with private weigh-ins and one-to-one chats, followed by group discussions focused on nutrition, motivation, celebrating successes and sharing practical tips on diet and exercise. 11 11 11 'Lynda and the group are behind me and give me the inspiration to turn up every week,' Simon says. 'I look forward to getting weighed. 'I have never felt pressured to lose weight at Beeweighed like with other groups I've attended in the past. 'I would recommend it to anyone starting out their journey.' 'I feel like a new person' Now weighing 17st 1lb, he feels fantastic, and hopes to reach his target weight of 16st soon. Simon says: 'Before, I couldn't move out of my chair. 'Now I go on days out with my seven grandkids – proper things like a grandad should do. I'm loving it. 'I know everyone needs a little treat every now and again – I do myself on a Friday. 'But in the past, I just ate whatever I wanted and I paid for it. 'It's brilliant. I've given away all my old clothes to the charity shop. 'I feel like a new person.' 11
