a great cook and I was
always nipping back to the
kitchen for a second helping
of spaghetti Bolognese or
curry, then popping out for
a bag of sweets afterwards.
Other times, I’d work late and
grab a ready meal or takeaway
on the way home.
In time I was promoted
to customer service team
manager and, while it was a
great opportunity, the stress of
the extra work ramped up my appetite. Instead of
one lunchtime meal deal from the supermarket, I’d
buy myself two. As my trouser size went up, Amy
started hinting that she was worried, telling me
she’d read that a waist size above 37ins could mean
an increased risk of cancer. I was wearing 40ins
trousers, but somehow I just couldn’t find the
motivation to change. Despite Amy’s concerns for
my health, I knew she loved me just how I was, and
that was enough for me.Wedding-suit worries
That summer, we went on holiday to Menorca. One
evening, as Amy and I were on the beach at sunset,
I got down on one knee, took out a ring and asked:
‘Will you marry me?’ I watched her face light up, then
she smiled back and said: ‘Yes!’ After being on a high
for the rest of the week, I was brought back down to
earth with a bump when I saw our photos. I looked
much bigger than I’d thought and when I said so to
Amy, she took the chance to repeat her concerns.
‘Matt, you need to think of your health,’ she said. This
time, I listened. This was my future wife speaking –
the person who’d vow to love me no matter what. One
day, we’d want to have kids. If I kept getting bigger,
would I be fit enough to be an active dad?
The weekend after flying home we went to Amy’s
parents’ house to tell them our news. As we chatted
in the lounge, the congratulations soon turned into
practical discussions about wedding plans and, at
some point, the subject of suits came up. That aspect
of getting hitched hadn’t really occurred to me –
suddenly, I realised I didn’t want to be in any
wedding photos...not until I’d lost some weight.
As I explained my worries, Amy’s mum had
a suggestion. ‘I go to Slimming World and I think
you’d like it,’ she said. ‘You can eat as much as you
like, so you’ll never be hungry.’ While it sounded too
good to be true, I knew for a fact she’d lost 2st on the
plan. My main reservation was that there wouldn’t
be many men. Talking it through with my friend
Alex – who I’d asked to be my best man – put things
into perspective: ‘Mate, you’re in your mid-20s.
You’re meant to be in your prime,’ he said. ‘What are
you going to be like when you’re 50?’ Alex’s tough
love settled it. I found my local Slimming World
group and resolved to go the following week.
My fears soon eased as the smiling Consultant,
Susie, welcomed me into the hall. Suddenly, it didn’tBEFORE
BREAKFAST A bowl of sugary
cereal with semi-skimmed milk
MORNING SNACK Crisps
LUNCH Two supermarket meal
deals: a pack of sandwiches and
a pasta pot, crisps, a chocolate
bar and two fizzy drinks
AFTERNOON SNACK A big
bag of sweets
DINNER Two helpings of
spaghetti Bolognese made
with a shop-bought sauce and
loads of cheeseAFTER
BREAKFAST Two Weetabix with
skimmed milk
LUNCH Home-made pasta salad
with olives (½ Syns for eight),
spring onions, radishes and
tomatoes. A g bag of Pom-Bear
Cheese & Onion crisps for Syns
SNACKS Apple and orange
DINNER Slimming World pasta
bake, curry or all-day breakfastMATT’S DAY ON A PLATE
Out on the
water again
at last, I feel
strong and
ready for
an exciting
new chapter
in my life SLIMMING WORLDINTERVIEW: ADAM CARPENTER. PHOTOGRAPHS: DAVID CUMMINGS. STYLING: LOUISE SYKES. GROOMING: LOU ROTHWELL. SEE P FOR STOCKISTS. LOCATION AND KAYAK EQUIPMENT WITH THANKS TO HATFIELD OUTDOOR ACTIVITY CENTREREV1_Mattsuccess_vb.indd 90 09/11/2017 11:20