| He stepped on the scales at his Mid Craigie home and discovered that he now weights just over 33 stones — six stones less than last June when he was warned that he was eating himself into his grave.
The road to a slimmer figure and healthier life has not been easy for the 52-year-old.
He found it difficult to stick to his diet up to and during Christmas and admitted that the temptation of fattening festive fare was too difficult to resist.
“I feel great to know that that I have lost weight and that I am back on target.
“I was around this weight before Christmas and I was worried that I had put some pounds back on,” he said.
“I probably did regain some weight but I know I have taken it back off again. This has made me determined to keep on my diet.”
Dietician Declan Fields praised Stewart for his efforts, and said, “For people trying to lose weight, it is important to focus on weight maintenance over difficult times — and there are going to be difficult times.
“It is not possible to have progressive weight loss from start to finish.
“Stewart had trouble over Christmas time, but the scales have told us that he is back on course, and he’s doing very well.
“He must now try to put the difficult time behind him and keep going with the diet and exercise regime he has been set.”
The dietician continued, “I notice a difference in him over the months I have been seeing him.
“He’s breathing more easily because he’s lost a lot of weight from round his chest, so that is a good sign.”
Looking on today was Stewart’s wife Moira, who said, “He’s done very well and he’s going to keep going for his sake and for all the people who have contacted him to give encouragement.”
Stewart was forced to go on the diet after suffering a heart attack at his home last June, and because of his size the paramedics had trouble getting him to Ninewells Hospital.
As well as his obesity — at nearly 40 stones he was billed as being Scotland’s heaviest man — he suffers from agoraphobia — fear of open spaces — and he is waiting for counselling from a psychologist to coax him outside.
Being able to go for walks will also help his diet, for taking more exercise will assist his weight loss.
Confirmation of his weight loss was good news for Stewart and for the Carol’s Pot of Gold Charity.
He has been sponsored on his diet to raise money for equipment for cancer patients at Ninewells Hospital, and today’s news means the charity has earned about £900.
Stewart’s quest to lose weight has also been featured in the national media, including ITV’s Tricia show. |
