The uncle of the Duchess of Cambridge has lost a staggering 3 stone in weight since the wedding of his niece Pippa Middleton in May.
Gary Goldsmith, 52, was so embarrassed by photographs at the wedding that he went on a seven-week meal replacement diet to raise money for charity.
He now weighs 14 stone 7 lbs, having achieved his target of dropping 42 lbs in 49 days.
He told Mail Online: ‘I am thrilled that I’ve reached my target but, ultimately, I’m more chuffed about being healthy than losing weight.
‘I’ve worked really hard, walked a lot, been spinning and played tennis. I can now bend down and do up my shoes without huffing and puffing. That’s an achievement!
Gary has lost 3 stone by surviving on black coffee, fruit shakes and powdered meals (which he flavoured with tobasco and chilli), vegetables and salads
The businessman was so embarrassed by photographs at Pippa’s wedding (pictured here with daughter Tallulah) that he went on a meal replacement diet to raise money for charity
‘My family is really delighted. My daughter Tallulah gave me a big hug last week and said: “We all love this Dad better”.
‘I wouldn’t even be frightened now if Pippa challenges me to the game of tennis she has always threatened.’
Gary, the younger brother of Carole Middleton, was spurred into dieting after being mocked by friends over his 17 stone 7 lbs frame.
After investing in a new suit for Pippa’s wedding – he couldn’t squeeze into the £5,000 suit he bought for the Royal wedding – he vowed to act.
He has spent the last six weeks existing on Alevere shakes and replacement meals – rather than fry-ups, sugar and alcohol – in a bid to meet his target.
Gary (pictured with wife Julie-Ann) is the younger brother of Carole Middleton, and says he was spurred into dieting after being mocked by friends over his 17 stone 7 lbs frame
Out went his favourite breakfasts – steak, scrambled eggs and Bloody Marys – and three-course lunches at Langan’s.
Instead he survived on black coffee, fruit shakes and powdered meals (which he flavoured with tobasco and chilli), vegetables and salads.
When he dined out, he opted for chicken, fish or steak and salad and the ‘very’ occasional glass of red wine.
He has now raised £15,760 in aid of the charity Opera, a global recruitment company for disadvantaged young people, affiliated with the Prince’s Trust.
‘It has not been as difficult as I thought it would be,’ said Gary, who lives in west London with wife Julie-Ann.
Gary now. The business mogul has just celebrated his weight loss during his inaugural recruitment business conference RDLC in Ibiza
All for a good cause: Gary has now raised £15,760 in aid of the charity Opera, a global recruitment company for disadvantaged young people, affiliated with the Prince’s Trust
‘The manager of Alevere has been ringing me up daily and asking: ‘How are you? What are you eating?’ She has been incredibly supportive.
‘I’ve survived on black coffee and lime and soda although I admit I’ve had the odd tipple at work lunches.
‘I loved the fruit shakes, chicken curry soup and puddings but found the spaghetti Bolognese and chilli slightly bland so I added tobasco and chilli.
‘I only cheated once when I had a reunion of my best school chums after 34 years.
‘I had a liver starter and steak at Langan’s with a few glasses of wine. But I went dancing and walked home to try and burn it off.
‘I’ve also done lots of exercise – I walked the dogs with the Boss (Julie-Ann) and played loads of tennis.
Gary has always been a keen sportsman – as a child he played tennis, ran and skied. At the age of 21, he weighed 12 stone and had a 28-inch waist
‘It was tough at first because I have not picked up a racket for three years but I persevered.
‘Surprisingly I couldn’t play golf because I lost my muscle memory. It was hilarious. I couldn’t hold the club.
‘The evenings were slightly tougher because I was not going out to restaurants.
‘I spent many a night watching TV while my wife Julie-Ann and daughter Lula scoffed sweets.
‘I even managed to go to the pub with friends, to chat and play cards, while drinking lime and soda.’
Gary has always been a keen sportsman – as a child he played tennis, ran and skied. At the age of 21, he weighed 12 stone and had a 28-inch waist.
But when he became a recruitment consultant, his girth expanded as he both worked and partied hard.
Pippa and James at their May wedding. Gary said: ‘I wouldn’t even be frightened now if Pippa challenges me to the game of tennis she has always threatened’
When he sold his company for £30 million, and he went on an eight-year sabbatical, his weight spiralled out of control.
‘I was effectively on one long holiday,’ he admitted. Everything revolved around the next meal.
‘It was a lot of fun, mind you. But before I knew it I was almost twice the man I was.’
Gary, who runs a recruitment advisory, network and investment company, came across the £250-a-week Alevere diet when on holiday in Cannes.
He signed up in September and has spent the past seven weeks combining meal replacement shakes with specialised treatments.
Speaking about his daughter, Gary said: ‘My family is really delighted. My daughter Tallulah gave me a big hug last week and said: “We all love this Dad better”
Gary was carrying some extra weight at Pippa’s wedding; after he sold his company for £30 million, and went on an eight-year sabbatical, his weight spiralled out of control
He has just celebrated his weight loss during his inaugural recruitment business conference RDLC in Ibiza.
But he is now back on his diet and is hoping to lose another stone over the next month.
‘The best thing has been that everybody has noticed how much weight I’ve lost,’ he added. ‘I look a million dollars not a million lira.
‘I promised myself that if I reached my target I would buy the orange jacket worn in the film Kingsman. I just need to find out where to get it.’
If you want to sponsor Gary go to justgiving.com