Martin Woodsford of Somerset lost 13 STONE in weight

Martin Woodsford, who moved to Somerset at the start of the pandemic, weighed in at 27 stone when he was eating up to eight chocolate bars a day and binging on take-aways and junk food.

However, after a dedicated weightloss mission, he was crowned Slimming World's  Mr Sleek UK after changing his life dramatically.

Martin, now an award-winning consultant for the weightloss firm, lost 13 stone and has turned his life around.

He now uses his passion to help others lose weight at his groups in Bridgwater and Burnham-on-Sea. 

Martin suffered years of abuse as a child and has suffered all his life with mental and physical health conditions, including depression and diabetes.

He said he was "abused very badly" as a child and was taken into care at the age of 11

"Life seemed pointless, and I had nothing to live for – it was pretty grim to be honest," he said.

"I constantly lived in fear and felt worthless.

"I was beaten with a belt, kicked, had cigarettes used on my bare skin. 

"People have endured much worse than I did, but I truly believe that these bad times were something that I had to go through to make me a stronger person and has enabled me to empathise with others."

Originally from South Wales, Martin said food was sparce as child until he was saved by a residential school for abused children and that it gave him a "lifeline of hope".

But Martin's mental health suffered each year which had a dramatic impact on his weight and created a vicious cycle of self sabotage and self abuse.

"I eventually left the school at around 21, and felt incredibly lonely. Sometimes I coped, but many times I didn’t, with no family network to reply on," he said.

"I felt lost and alone, unloved and as overweight as I had become, I tried to take control by starving myself and developed anorexia and bulimia.

"It gave me control and enabled me to cope. I was hospitalised after collapsing.

"I hit rock bottom and could see no way out of surviving. I came to terms with that I’d never be happy."

He was advised counselling and was prescribed medication.

Throughout his 30s, Martin said his weight loss fluctuated along with his mental health, as he fought to be positive and take control.

Martin's weight rose to 27 stone

"Then something happened which made my weight spiral out of control," he said. "I developed Type 2 diabetes, which worsened each month being prescribed more medication.

"I had Asthma, a heart condition and could hardly walk. I was a mess and the doctors told me I would die if I did not so something.

"My ex-partner became pregnant in 2004 with triplets with a horrific pregnancy. There were so many complications - including my son having a grade three brain bleed and brain swelling.

"It was rewarding because we had our beautiful babies but life wrenching because you couldn't enjoy all the special things new parents are supposed to enjoy.

“I was binge eating to cope but nothing, and no amount of chocolate, could fill the void."

Martin's relationship later came to an end and he came out as gay in his 40s.

"It was an awful time, but liberating at the same time," he said.

"I felt I would be judged, but I had to do it and be true to myself. All my friends said they knew before I did, but I really didn't.

"I had counselling a few years ago and the counsellor really helped me understand that I had suppressed being gay because of the abuse I had suffered earlier in my life and with the need to have that perfect family that everyone dreams about.

"I first came out to some very close friends and then some work colleagues on a training course where I felt I was in a natural environment.

"It really wasn't as bad as I had thought - even though my heart was racing."

Martin joined Slimming World in 2014 and has since lost more than 13 stone - dropping from 27 stone to just over 14 stone.

He has since slimmed down to 14 stone

He puts it down to cutting out junk food, eating more vegetables and cooking everything fresh.

Martin, who has now completely reversed his diabetes and all his health conditions, added: "It's not only changed my life, but given me a life I never thought possible or knew I wanted.

"It's taught me so much as a member about myself to have faith that I can achieve anything I set my heart to.

"To let go of guilt when I have a weight loss or don't achieve something as planned.

"It's okay to stuff things up sometimes.

"The pandemic has been a struggle for us all, even Will Smith and many other celebrities have declared on social media how hard they have found controlling their weight.  

"We are all human and make mistakes, all we can do is try our best."

Now, Martin is helping others by running his own Slimming World Groups.

"All anyone wants is to feel appreciated, to feel confident and happy. It's my mission to help as many people as I possibly can achieve their dreams too," he said.

Martin's runs covid safe groups in Bridgwater on Monday mornings and evenings at the Community Church at Eastover, and in Burnham-on-Sea on Tuesday mornings and evenings at the Sea Cadets Hall, in Cassis Close.

For more information call, text or whatsapp 0734 092 4031, or follow Martin on Instagram, @mr_slimmingworld.