A chef who struggled to control himself around food lost 15 stone in 16 months by eating just one meal a day.<br /><br />Simon Parnell, 42, tipped the scales at 35 stone at his heaviest and struggled to squeeze into a size 8XL. <br /><br />He used to gorge on crisps, pastries and fizzy drinks but decided to make a change when he realised he couldn't get through a work shift without his legs swelling up - often spending the next day in extreme pain. <br /><br />Simon thought he'd only be able to shed the weight by getting gastric band surgery but after realising there was a two year wait he decided to give it a go naturally.<br /><br />He joined his friend, Ben Turner, 42, on a walk one morning - and the pair made a pact to meet at 6am each day to walk together. <br /><br />Simon started fasting and has now switched to healthy home-cooked foods such as chicken and vegetables.<br /><br />He was amazed when the weight fell off him and is now a slender 19st 11lbs, size 2XL, and "feels a million dollars". He says his daughter, Hatty, 14, is "so so proud" of her dad.<br /><br />Simon, from St Margaret's, Kent, said: "My weight had got worse and worse.<br /><br />"I'd got really big over time and found it hard to do everything, from putting on my socks to going out to work. <br /><br />"I became completely dedicated to walking.<br /><br />"I started walking every day, and was gradually able to walk further and faster.<br /><br />"Now I feel something so unimaginable, so happy, so healthy, this is what I've wanted all my life. <br /><br />"I've dreamed and pictured this and I'm living my best life. I've waited a life time to get where I am, even though I haven't finished.<br /><br />"My daughter thought I wouldn't get as far as I have done - she is so so proud of me and has talked about it so many times." <br /><br />Simon had always struggled with his weight and would eat four slices of toast every morning, binge on unhealthy snacks throughout the day, and go through a few bottles of beer every evening. <br /><br />His favourite foods were meal deals, sweets, chocolates and fizzy drinks.<br /><br />He said: "My car would just be filled with at least half a black sack worth of wrappers each week.<br /><br />"I’d just end up in a complete hole.<br /><br />"At the end of the day, I just couldn't move - my body was in shut down."<br /><br />Simon's work as a chef required him to stand for long periods of time but he could barely get through a shift without sitting down a lot throughout the day. <br /><br />He also often ended the day with swollen legs and would be in pain the whole next day. <br /><br />Simon said: "I was worried about my health.<br /><br />"I wasn’t happy with how I looked and I thought gastric surgery was the only way to lose weight. <br /><br />"However, when I was told how long the wait for hospital bed space was, I made the decision to start my own weight loss journey."<br /><br />In January 2023, Simon’s friend, Ben, invited him for a morning walk. They met at 6am and walked three kilometres - which left Simon feeling "knackered". <br /><br />The two men made a pact to meet there every morning for a month to walk together - regardless of the weather or any other factors.
