A music lover who went to a festival feeling 'too tired' to watch his favourite band because of his weight has now returned - after losing 14 stone. <br /><br />Aaron Walker, 27, went to Leeds Festival in 2021 but struggled to enjoy himself because of his 26st 12.5lbs frame.<br /><br />He was 'gasping for breath' by just walking to the main stage and felt 'self-conscious' the entire time he was there.<br /><br />Aaron even missed the performance of one of his favourite bands, the Two Door Cinema Club, because he was 'too tired' to walk to the stage they were playing on.<br /><br />He sprung into action to start losing weight and Aaron now weighs a trim 12st 10.5lbs and his waist size has dropped from 48ins to a slimline 32ins.<br /><br />Now he's back at the festival, which is held at Bramham Park, and said he is 'loving' it this time.<br /><br />Aaron said: "When I arrived, it soon dawned on me that being on my feet would be hard going for me at almost 27st. <br /><br />"Just the walk from the entrance to the main stage had me gasping for breath – I was exhausted. <br /><br />"I felt self-conscious all day and even missed one of my favourite bands, Two Door Cinema Club, because I was too tired to walk across the field to the stage they were playing on.<br /><br />"I thought to myself – I’m 25 years old, I should be having the time of my life at a music festival with my mates and I’m not. <br /><br />"That was my turning point. I joined a Slimming World group not long after. <br /><br />"Now here I am – two years later, 14st lighter and loving Leeds Festival this time."<br /><br />Reflecting on the festival in 2021, Aaron says that his 'weight was a problem' before he even arrived there as he recalls struggling to find an outfit that fitted him.<br /><br />Aaron, of Doncaster, South Yorks,. said: "Even before I arrived my weight was a problem. <br /><br />"The button had popped off my shorts because they were so tight and I tried to find some more the day before, but clothes shopping isn’t exactly simple when you have a 48ins waist. <br /><br />"So, I sewed the button back on and hoped for the best."<br /><br />Aaron admitted that he's 'always had a problem with his weight', even when he was growing up.<br /><br />And when he went to university, his 'weight problems became even worse' because he was eating 'whatever he wanted.'<br /><br />Aaron said: "I’d always had a problem with my weight, even as a child. <br /><br />"When I was younger my parents had to put a padlock on our treats cupboard because otherwise I would eat the lot. <br /><br />"When I moved away to uni my weight problems became even worse. <br /><br />"Being independent meant I could eat whatever I wanted – and a boozy night out often ended in a takeaway – with another one the next day to help clear my hangover.<br /><br />"I presented myself as the big, funny one even though inside I was really self-conscious."<br /><br />While at uni, Aaron would gorge on takeaway pizzas and snack on crisps, sweets chocolate, biscuits and cake.<br /><br />He was 'totally inactive' and even walking to the top of the stairs would 'leave him out of breath.'<br /><br />So he decided to join Slimming World to start losing weight when he was studying in Hull.<br /><br />And as the weight began to fall off, he decided to start going on small walks around the block and his fitness levels improved over time. <br /><br />Now he has learnt to cook and recreates some of his 'favourite takeaway dishes like Chinese chicken.'<br /><br />Aaron added: "I’d always been a big eater, so I knew that an overly restrictive plan which left me feeling hungry wouldn’t work for me. <br /><br />"I loved learning to cook – it almost became like therapy for me. <br /><br />"I soon learned how to recreate my favourite takeaway dishes like Chinese chicken. <br /><br />"The support I got at the group helped me to see that food isn’t the enemy."<br /><br />DIET BEFORE:<br />Breakfast: Nothing<br />Mid-morning: Chocolate, sweets, biscuits, crisps<br />Lunch: A supermarket meal deal such as a sandwich, crisps and a drink followed by chocolate or cake<br />Dinner: Takeaway pizza or chicken and chips<br />Snacks: Crisps, chocolate, biscuits, cake<br /><br />DIET NOW:<br />Breakfast: Porridge with lots of fresh fruit and a black coffee<br />Lunch: Leftovers from a meal made the night before or homemade soup or salads<br />Dinner: A Chinese fakeaway such as homemade Chinese chicken with egg-fried rice<br />Evening: A Slimming World Hi-Fi bar or a flavoured fat-free yogurt
