Male slimmers can be just as determined as their female counterparts to ditch the dodgy diets and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Health reporter Jane Picken talks to male slimmers to find the secrets of their success.
The typical student lifestyle was a dietary disaster for 22-year-old Tom Skelland as he feasted on fast food and his beloved sausage sandwiches. But when he reached 18st 6lb, the chemistry student decided to ditch the lazy lifestyle and transform his eating habits and joined Slimming World in January. And in just 18 weeks, Tom, who lives in Heaton, Newcastle, has shed a staggering three stone, as well as swapping his 44in-waist baggy trousers for a pair of svelte trendy jeans. "The weight gain was completely down to eating exactly what I wanted and also living the typical student lifestyle," said Tom, who is studying for a Masters degree in chemistry. "I was eating rubbish every day and then drinking with all of my uni mates. "When I realised I was coming up to the end of university I decided I had to lose some weight and the difference it has made is unbelievable in terms of making me look a lot better. "Joining Slimming World has also really helped but I never really thought about it until I saw adverts for the Heaton groups." Tom has kept the convenience element of his diet, but now rather than takeaways, he is opting for cous cous and salads - healthy dishes which take just minutes to knock up. The student plans to lose another stone but has already taken the opportunity to throw out his bagged hooded tops, T-shirts and trousers, and go shopping for clothes to fit his slimmer frame. "I'm actually skint now because I've been shopping so much for new clothes," explained Tom, who recently hit London for some retail therapy. "Before I lost the weight there were shops I could never go into but it's opened up a whole new world to me where I can wear fashionable clothes such as fitted shirts and waistcoats. "I'm so proud of what I've achieved and now I'm trying food I've never had before such as chick peas, as well as loads of fruit and vegetables. "The only thing I really miss is bread because that is the ultimate convenience food. And although I still go out a couple of times a week with friends, I've stopped drinking beer and instead go for vodka and diet coke." Retired chef Dave Menzies has also, like Tom, managed to lose three stone in 17 weeks by joining his local Killingworth Slimming World group. Dave was sick of seeing his 19 stone frame in the bathroom mirror, and realised exercise and a revamped diet could transform the way he looked. But more worryingly Dave had been diagnosed with type one diabetes, meaning he needed four shots of insulin every day to keep the condition in check. Diabetes causes less complications for someone with a healthy lifestyle, good weight and nutritious diet. "Getting diabetes was partly down to being quite a bit overweight. Being a chef I just ate whatever I fancied," explained grandad-of-three Dave, 56, from Shiremoor, North Tyneside. "Although I preferred making things myself rather than eat fast food, I tended to go for very fattening dishes including cheesy pasta meals, and cheesecakes. "Now I'm very careful with what I eat and I always check the fat content." Meal times now see Dave using soya meat, which has significantly lower fat than animal meat, adding it to favourite dishes including spaghetti bolognese. "It's hard to stick to the diet but I really want to lose weight," added Dave, who worked as a chef at St James' Park football ground in Newcastle. "Eating can also be tricky with me being diabetic. I need to have four injections of insulin every day and at the same time I also need something to eat. "If you've got diabetes and don't take care of yourself, it can be very dangerous for your health. But now my blood sugar levels are fine and have been for a long time. "It makes things awkward but I'm very careful. "Slimming World has really helped with willpower and has been a tower of strength." Tom and Dave have now gone through to the finals of the national Slimming World's Man of the Year competition for 2007, which will take place next month. --------------------------------------------------------- Tom's Diet: BEFORE Breakfast: Toast with butter, sugary cereal with milk or skipped altogether. Lunch: Sausage sandwich on white bread with mayonnaise and ketchup, chicken and bacon stottie with mayonnaise, or burger and chips. Dinner: Chinese or Indian takeaway, deep Pan Pizza with extra cheese, tuna and mayonnaise pasta with cheese. Snacks: Ham and cheese sandwiches, chocolate, crisps, fizzy drinks, pizza or takeaway after a night out. Tom's Diet: AFTER Breakfast: Melon and Yoghurt, sardines in tomato sauce on toast, cereal bar or porridge made with water or skimmed milk. Lunch: Jacket potato, beans and salad, salad made with ham, mozzarella, peppers, tomatoes onion and egg, or cous cous with peppers onion and bacon. Dinner: Chicken breast with homemade chips and beans, rice and vegetables in a soy, chilli and garlic sauce, or vegetarian spaghetti bolognese. Snacks: Fruit, grapes, apples, bananas, or a cup of soup with pasta in it. --------------------------------------------------------- Dave's Diet: BEFORE Breakfast: Bacon, egg and sausages with fried bread. Lunch: Cooked meal such as baked potato with chicken curry and a can of full-fat cola. Dinner: Beef stew with vegetables and fruit crumble. Snacks: Cheese and biscuits or cheese on toast. Jaffa cakes and cups of tea. Dave's Diet: AFTER Breakfast: Half a grapefruit, one slice of toast, yoghurt and the occasional boiled egg. Lunch: A light snack such as crackers and salad. Dinner: Chicken Kiev and salad or spaghetti bolognese with soya meat. Snacks: Crackers or low fat chips. --------------------------------------------------------- Burn the calories Top nutritionist Dr Fred Wadsworth has compiled a list of tips to help shift those pounds which comes as people approach middle age. At around the age of 30, the amount of muscle in our bodies begins to decline, causing the body's metabolic, or calorie burning, rate to slow down. According to Dr Wadsworth, who has provided nutritional advice to the England cricket team and Chelsea FC, there are ways to boost your metabolism: *Eat a small portion of protein in each meal *Eat calories in smaller, regular meals *Exercise regularly and vary what you do, with short bursts of speed *Mix up cardio and weights *Eat more good fats *Drink two litres of water a day | 
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