Workaholic dad sheds seven stone and gains a six-pack

A father-of-three has revealed how he became so fixated with running his own business that his weight soared to dangerous levels because he didn’t ‘have time’ to plan meals and exercise.

Jason Yates, from Nottingham, once weighed in at more than 22-and-a-half-stone – but has now shed an impressive 16 inches from his waist and 10 inches from his chest after slimming down.

Business owner Yates, 34, was desperate to ensure his company prospered and would snack on high-carb meals including bread, cheese and potatoes as a quick fix. 

Jason Yates, pictured left with a friend, from Nottingham, as he looked at his heaviest weight. The business owner says he was so committed to ensuring his company was a success, eating well wasn’t a priority

Impressive: Jason as he looks now at his current weight of 13stone 12lbs; the dad-of-three now exercises four or five days a week and has seen his body transformed 

Impressive: Jason as he looks now at his current weight of 13stone 12lbs; the dad-of-three now exercises four or five days a week and has seen his body transformed 

Jason says he feared his children would end up becoming obese too - but now says his sons are obsessed with exercise too 

Jason says he feared his children would end up becoming obese too – but now says his sons are obsessed with exercise too 

Wearing an XXXXL in clothes, Yates maintains that he was never unhappy with how he looked – but says his children gave him the wake-up call he needed to slim down after he feared they too would descend into obesity. 

In 2010, Jason attended a weight-loss group with a colleague and the fuse on his journey was lit. 

Just six months later, he had shed 7st 7lbs.

Now training four to five times a week, with a mix of high intensity interval training (HIIT), weight lifting and cardio, the father-of-three has dropped from 22st 8.5lbs to 13st 12lbs. 

To his joy, his sons are now as obsessed with fitness as he is. 

He explains: ‘My biggest motivating factor is my children. Children are like sponges and absorb all we do and imitate us. 

‘By leading by example my two boys are massively into fitness and exercise and I’ve no doubt my daughter will be too when she’s older.’

‘The last thing I want is my kids being unhealthy, being the last one picked for team sports or being ridiculed at school for being overweight like I was.’

He says that he wasn’t unhappy with his previous bigger frame but is still shocked at just how large he had become.  

‘I was happy with myself even at my biggest. Being fat didn’t bother me if I’m honest. It’s not until looking back that I’m now shocked that I could have been happy like that.

‘A work colleague invited me to Slimming World. I went solely for moral support. Not to better myself. Losing weight has massively changed my life and my approach to life. I’m now a more positive person and I’m a massively believer in goal setting.

‘Not only that but I feel I’ll now be around for many years to see my kids grow. Realistically if I’d carried on how I was I fear I may be dead now.

Always last to picked: The 34-year-old says he wasn't unhappy with himself but did fear he might not make old age with his diet

Always last to picked: The 34-year-old says he wasn’t unhappy with himself but did fear he might not make old age with his diet

Pictured with two of his three children, Yates has swapped his carb-heavy diet of potatoes and bread with cheese for healthier eating, something he hopes will inspire his sons

Pictured with two of his three children, Yates has swapped his carb-heavy diet of potatoes and bread with cheese for healthier eating, something he hopes will inspire his sons

The tattooed business owner now has muscles to be proud of and regularly competes in triathalons

The tattooed business owner now has muscles to be proud of and regularly competes in triathalons

‘My diet before would be anything I could get my hands on. Lots of bread, potatoes and cheese.

‘Lack of exercise, overeating and work life contributed massively to me being overweight. I worked, worked and worked in order to live and found no time to exercise, plan meals or do anything to have control over my health.

‘Unfortunately, I think the majority of the population are in the same situation same.

‘My nutrition now is more structured around food for function. I monitor my calories in and calories out and eat every food group. I love eating high fat and protein though and relatively low carb.’ 

Yates, pictured with his partner Sarah, and young daughter has now traded in his old life to become a personal trainer

Yates, pictured with his partner Sarah, and young daughter has now traded in his old life to become a personal trainer

When Jason started his journey, his chest measured 50 inches and he had a 48 inch waist, his chest is now 40 inches and he sports a svelte 32 inch waist.

I had no problems losing weight. I got committed, got dedicated and got on with it. I threw myself one hundred percent at it…

After his own remarkable weight loss, Jason has become a personal trainer and has invested in a gym and he is helping others to transform their lives. 

The dad-of-three has also competed in triathlons, Yorkshire Three Peaks, National Three Peaks, Tough Mudder and several half marathons since his weight loss. He says commitment to such a massive lifestyle change is key to success.

‘I invested in becoming a personal trainer and more recently have invested in a gym. Helping others feel how I feel is now my main motivation,’ he added.

‘Obesity is a massive issue right now and if I could just help one more person avoid being where I was in 2010 then I’m happy.

Commitment is key, says Jason, who runs, swims and cycles as past of his fitness regime

Commitment is key, says Jason, who runs, swims and cycles as past of his fitness regime

Yates says once he made his mind up he was going to lose weight, he hasn't looked back

Yates says once he made his mind up he was going to lose weight, he hasn’t looked back

'Helping others feel how I feel is now my main motivation', says Jason

‘Helping others feel how I feel is now my main motivation’, says Jason

Putting his money where his mouth is: Jason has now bought a gym so he can focus on helping others to transform their bodies

Putting his money where his mouth is: Jason has now bought a gym so he can focus on helping others to transform their bodies

‘My biggest motivating factor is my children. Children are like sponges and absorb all we do and imitate us. 

By leading by example my two boys are massively into fitness and exercise and I’ve no doubt my daughter will be too when she’s older.

‘The last thing I want is my kids being unhealthy, being the last one picked for team sports or being ridiculed at school for being overweight like I was.

‘I had no problems losing weight. I got committed, got dedicated and got on with it. I threw myself one hundred percent at it.’  



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