A RETAIL supervisor has beaten thousands to be named as one of Britain's top male slimmers after shedding a dramatic 12 stone in weight.
Simon Stancevic, from Broomfield, now stands almost half the man he was after dropping from 25st to 12st 13lb, and gaining a place in the top 10 for Slimming World's Man of the Year 2013 contest.
"I had always struggled with my weight but there was a point where I was big and happy, and then things just got worse for the last four years prior to my weight loss," said Simon, who was known affectionately as 'Big Si' by friends at Chelmsford City Footballs' Supporters Club.
"Then after Christmas 2010 I made the usual resolution to diet but the difference this time was the shock factor of stepping on the scales – I couldn't believe what I weighed.
"Before I wasn't thinking about my weight as an issue but it had crept up on me and just daily life was a struggle, even walking somewhere I'd end up sweating, and I couldn't take part in sports although all my mates were involved in them."
Accompanied by his mother, who has also lost three stone on the regime, Simon finally took the decision to join a slimming group in Springfield despite some initial scepticism.
"To be honest if it wasn't for her encouragement I wouldn't have gone as I thought it wasn't really a place for young men," said the 25-year-old.
"I remember it was a dark Monday evening when I first went along, I was nervous but then I went in and never looked back.
"The plan wasn't viewed as a diet, but rather a permanent lifestyle change and I thought the approach was really fantastic. I could still eat meat, pasta, and even drink beer at the weekends, but all in moderation.
"We as a family had always enjoyed food and cooked well, so it wasn't as if we'd been eating takeaways and ready meals all the time. On a trip round the supermarket now we'd probably put all the same items in our trolley, but we'd just cook and prepare them really differently."
After more than two years of healthy eating and regular exercise Simon, who lives at home with his parents, reached his goal weight in March of 13st 3lb.
"It was amazing to reach the goal weight, I had never wanted to be the centre of attention before as being big attracted enough attention as it was, but when I began being noticed at the class, and outside, for my weight loss that began to change," added Simon, who has a degree in marketing.
And thrusting him further into the limelight Simon reached the final 10 in the competition for Slimming World's Man of the Year 2013, travelling up to Derby to present his story in a bid for the top spot, only narrowly missing out to a fellow contestant.
Clare Morris, who runs the Chelmsford group, said: "I hope Simon's inspired a lot of other men in Chelmsford who'd like to lose weight to go for it."
