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A Hamilton postie who faced the prospect of losing his job because he was overweight has lost a staggering nine and a half stones in just 10 months.
Six-foot Robert Heggison, of Woodhead, enjoyed his round as a postman in Burnbank but was forced to take time off work last year due to pains in his ankles from arthritis.
The 34-year-old suddenly found the pounds piling on because he was sitting around all day.
Having gone from walking around seven miles each day for 14 years to sitting on the couch eating take-aways, drinking and watching television he tipped the scales at 25 stones 11-and-a-half pounds last October.
It was at this point he thought he should take action and along with his mother, Phyllis, he decided to join Scottish Slimmers.
Robert began his weight loss journey on October 25 with a waist size 58 and chest size 5XL.
He said: “I was worried that the weight gain would affect my job and I had to give up my beloved football and golf.
“I didn’t want to lose my job so when my mum suggest we go to Scottish Slimmers that was the encouragement I needed.”
Luckily for Robert, his mum is a cook, and she encouraged him to keep going.
The former Earnock High School pupil said: “I just stuck to the weight loss plan and went back to work and I had my walking, so things began to work well.
“The slimming class at Fairhill Lifestyles Centre also gave me great encouragement to keep going.”
Ten months later Robert is back at work – and waiting for his third new uniform in a year.
Robert said: “Normally we are only entitled to a new uniform every two years but I’ve lost so much weight I keep needing new ones!’
He now weighs 16st 5lbs – a weight loss of 9st 6lbs.
And he has also made it through to the final of Scottish Slimmers’ Slimmer of the Year.
Alexandra Howie, marketing director of Scottish Slimmers, said: “The entries this year for our Slimmer of the Year have been amazing and the weight loss incredible.The amount of weight our male semi-finalists have lost is inspirational.”
