'Daddy, I didn't know you could run': Father shamed into losing nine stone in six months

Staff - dailymail.co.uk - 01/03/2012
Success Stories

A doting father lost 9st in just six months after being shamed into dieting when he became too fat to play with his young daughter.

Morbidly-obese Chris Willis, 47, tipped the scales at 27st 7lbs following a lifetime of fry-ups, takeaways and pork pies.

The painter and decorator had to take long pauses just to climb the stairs or walk more than a few yards. He also carried an inhaler to treat his obesity-induced asthma.

But overweight Chris turned to dieting when he realised he was too fat to play with his ten-year-old daughter, Sophie, who had a passion for running.

The determined dad-of-one cut out all the fatty foods he had binged on, and began exercising. He now weights 16st 7lbs after losing a stone-and-a-half every month since July.

Chris, who lives in Shepreth, Cambridgeshire, with his wife Jackie, 51, a coach driver, said: 'The hardest thing was seeing my little girl in the garden and not being able to join in because I was so unhealthy.

'But now I am making up for lost time - we do so much together and it is just great.

'A few months ago when I started getting active again I remember chasing my daughter around the garden.

'When she suddenly turned around with an amazed look on her face and said, "Daddy, I didn’t know you could run".'

Delighted Sophie said: 'I’m so proud of my dad. It’s brilliant being able to run around and play with him.'

Chris used to tuck into an incredible 5,000 calories a day, before he swtiched to a healthy lifestyle.

On average he would eat five slices of buttered toast for breakfast before a full English breakfast as a mid morning meal.

He would then eat a sandwich, a large pack of crisps and a pasty for lunch before chomping on a whole packet of biscuits in the afternoon.

For dinner Chris would demolish a curry, ice cream, and sink four pints of beer, before grazing on fatty snacks all evening.

Amazingly Chris claims he still eats the same amount - but has simply cut out the unhealthy fatty foods.

Chris said: 'At 13, I was 18-and-a-half-stone and I remember a teacher pointing this out to the whole school.

'From then on I was picked on and bullied. My weight went up and up. But I now have a new found freedom.

'My family and friends have been so supportive and my wife and daughter are so pleased for me. In fact it’s them I did it for more than anyone else.

'The whole journey has been amazing and I am still shocked myself that I have managed to lose so much weight.'

Chris is now aiming for a new target weight of 15st.