Not being able to play with my grandkids inspired my 10st weight loss

Marie-Claire Dorking
·Contributor
·4-min read
Jimmy has dropped from a 5XL with an over 50-inch waistline to a double XL after losing almost half his body weight. (William Lailey/Jimmy Mannion/SWNS)
Jimmy has dropped from a 5XL with an over 50-inch waistline to a double XL after losing almost half his body weight. (William Lailey/Jimmy Mannion/SWNS)

A grandfather who saw an incredible 10st weight loss has shared how not being able to play with his four grandchildren prompted him to overhaul his lifestyle.

Jimmy Mannion, 62, a retired chemical processor from Widnes, Cheshire, was spending up to £3,000 a year on convenience food and takeaways, but as well as impacting him financially his diet choices saw his weight creep up to 26.5st.

Mostly wearing t-shirts and "baggy bottoms" from plus-size retailers, Jimmy had to specially order suits for occasions like weddings as he was unable to find off-the-peg clothes that would fit his frame.

But it was an incident in the summer of 2022 where he felt unable to play on a bouncy castle with his granddaughter Evie, two, which really spurred him to make a drastic change. "I was at Evie's party and they had a bouncy castle there," he explains. "The other grandads were on the bouncy castle playing with them and I just sat there and thought 'I can’t get on there, because it’d kill me'. I realised then I was missing out on having the enjoyment of my granddaughters.

"Even if I was kicking a ball with them in the back garden, after about two minutes I’d have to sit down again because I was tired."

Now a trim 15st 11lb, Jimmy has seen over 10st weight loss. (William Lailey/Jimmy Mannion/SWNS)
Now a trim 15st 11lb, Jimmy has seen over 10st weight loss. (William Lailey/Jimmy Mannion/SWNS)

By switching on-the-go fatty foods for healthier, home-cooked meals Jimmy was able to lose some weight on his own, before joining his local Slimming World group in January 2023. "Before, I was just eating McDonald’s breakfasts, and then for dinner I’d eat a lot of takeaways. If there was nothing in the house to eat I’d go and get a burger or something."

Now, however, Jimmy will have home-cooked spaghetti bolognese or salmon with new potatoes and vegetables, which he says are his two favourite meals. "For breakfast, I’ll have porridge or fruit and fibre cereal, or boiled eggs on brown bread. For my lunches I tend to have Slimming World lunch bowls.

As part of his new regime, Jimmy also started exercising, working his way up to swimming 30 lengths in the pool as part of his weight loss journey. He now does a four-mile power walk most days and has joined local walking and cycling groups.

Now a trim 15st 11lb, Jimmy has dropped from a 5XL with an over 50-inch waistline to a double XL in just two years. "It’s given me more confidence," he says of his weight loss. "I feel as though I’m more outgoing now, I don’t hide myself away."

Jimmy is now able to play with his four granddaughters which was the catalyst for his weight loss. (William Lailey/Jimmy Mannion/SWNS)
Jimmy is now able to play with his four granddaughters which was the catalyst for his weight loss. (William Lailey/Jimmy Mannion/SWNS)

Of course his new healthier lifestyle also means he is now able to make the most of the time spent with his grandchildren. "I can look after them more and do more with them, take them to the park and play with them," he explains. "It’s just given me so much more energy, I just feel better in myself."

Jimmy says his family are 'really proud' of him for losing the weight. He was even able to come off his blood pressure medication after finding it was lowering his blood pressure too much following the weight loss.

"I go out on my pedal bike and get out once a month with the walking club," he says of his new fitness schedule. "It’s not only health benefits, it’s the social side as well, I’ve met a lot of friends. I feel much better, physically and mentally."

Jimmy pictured after his 10st weight loss. He says he feels better physically and mentally. (William Lailey/Jimmy Mannion/SWNS)
Jimmy pictured after his 10st weight loss. He says he feels better physically and mentally. (William Lailey/Jimmy Mannion/SWNS)

  • Breakfast: McDonald’s double sausage and egg McMuffin meal with two hash browns and a large Coke.

  • Lunch: Meat and potato pasty and a coke

  • Dinner: Chippy tea. Chips, peas and fish with three rounds of bread and a Coke.

  • Snacks: Crisps, Chocolate, Coca Cola.

  • Breakfast: Fruit & Fibre cereal, semi skimmed milk, banana; or, two boiled eggs on two pieces of wholemeal bread.

  • Lunch: Jacket potato with tuna or beans; or, Slimming World lunch bowl (naked beef burrito), low-fat yoghurt, fruit.

  • Dinner: Spaghetti bolognese or salmon, new potatoes and vegetables

  • Snacks: Small bag low-fat crisps, Slimming world HiFi bars, and a Pepsi Max or no added sugar cordials.

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