A man whose weight soared to 20 stone has overcome multiple health problems to become a high-flying personal trainer.
Paul Stefan Gill, from Halifax, unknowingly suffered from an automimmune disease – which caused him to pile on the pounds during his teens – as well as dyspraxia.
At his heaviest Paul, who is now 31, was regularly eating super-sized portions of his favourite fried chicken, and recalls being cruelly mocked as a ‘fat c***’ by a stranger who passed him in the street.
But since taking thyroid medication and learning more about nutrition, he has lost an impressive five stone – and become head personal trainer at his local gym.
Transformation: Since taking thyroid medication and learning more about nutrition, Paul has lost a staggering 5 stone and become a head personal trainer at his local gym
Paul’s weight had crept up to 20 stone as a teenager and he even received hurtful comments as a result of his size; in one particularly hurtful incident he was branded a ‘fat c***’
Paul was also born with Spina Bifida, a neural tube defect that can cause the spine to protrude. He underwent an operation to fix the condition, but lost his sense of smell in the process.
His dyspraxia affects his hand-eye coordination, depth perception and how he learns and feels, and Paul also suffers from osteoarthritis and bone spurs that have scraped away cartilage in his hip joint.
As he grew older, Paul began to struggle with his movement because of his weight and his health conditions, leading him to feel ‘old and unfit’.
Coupled with his poor diet – which saw him ‘supersizing’ his fried chicken orders and frequently snacking – his weight crept up to 20 stone as a teenager and he even received hurtful comments as a result of his size.
On one occasion he was cruelly branded a ‘fat c***’ by a total stranger while walking down the street.
Unhealthy: Paul began to struggle with his movement because of his weight and his health conditions, leading him to feel ‘old and unfit’
The way he was: Paul’s dyspraxia affects his hand-eye coordination, depth perception and how he learns and feels, and Paul also suffers from osteoarthritis and bone spurs
Paul Stefan Gill unknowingly suffered from an automimmune disease, which caused him to soar to 20 stone (left); but he is now a much healthier 15 stone (right)
Paul decided to join a gym to help him lose weight, but after a few years of continuously struggling to slim down he decided to seek medical help.
He recalled: ‘I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, a form of autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid gland which affects my metabolism and as a result, it impacted on my energy levels, muscle building and fat storage within my body.
‘After years of thinking I was just “big boned” everything now made perfect sense and I had finally discovered why I couldn’t lose weight despite slogging it out at the gym.
‘After receiving medication that would give me the correct amount of hormone equal to someone with a working thyroid I began to get my energy back.’
Paul continued to exercise regularly and began learning more about diet and nutrition – quickly slimming down to 15 stone.
Despite his health conditions – which affect his range of movement and strength training – he has forged a new career as Head Personal Trainer at Xercise4Less, in Bradford.
The 31-year-old, who has also taken a diploma in disability sport, is now on a mission to ‘open the door to anyone and everyone who wants to get fit and healthy’.