Dad, 35, so fat he ‘choked’ in his sleep and couldn’t walk up stairs shares his 12st weight-loss tips

AS James Garner tipped the scales at 26 stone he started “choking” in his sleep, leaving his wife fearing for his life.

After realising his health had deteriorated and was impacting his family life, the dad of three decided it was time to make some changes.

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James Garner weighed 26 stone at his heaviest[/caption]

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As a result of his weight gain, the dad of three had developed sleep apnoea[/caption]

At his heaviest, James, 35, couldn’t walk up a set of stairs without feeling breathless.

His weight gain was so immense he developed sleep apnoea – when breathing stops and starts while you sleep – and his wife Jenni, 35, thought it might kill him.

In January 2023, James, a manager at Screwfix, decided he needed to do something about his weight.

But instead of using weight loss jabs he did it the hard way, swapping his fast food diet for healthy calorie-efficient alternatives and began exercising to shed the pounds.

He now weighs an incredible 12 stone and says his life has transformed because of it.

James, from Littleport, Cambridgeshire, said: “I had developed sleep apnoea due to my weight, and it was so bad my wife Jenni was genuinely worried one day I just wouldn’t wake up.

“My wife noticed that I was often choking in my sleep and on January 9 I had a bad attack where she couldn’t wake me up and when she did I was breathless struggling to catch my breath.

“I was thinking I was going to die.

“I have three children Kayden,14, Izzy, 12, and Asher, six, and I wanted to be around to watch them all grow up.

“My mental health was at rock bottom, and my marriage and relationship with my children were suffering.

“When my health started to suffer too, I knew it was time to make a change.”

To lose his weight James joined his local Slimming World group and started off on their food optimising plan, cutting out his fast food habits.

He said he had to “relearn” how to eat to take back control.

I started off just wanting to feel more in control, but the more weight I lost, the more my whole life changed

The dad said: “Before I’d skip breakfast, grab something fried or processed at lunchtime, and then rely on takeaways most nights.

“I started off just wanting to feel more in control, but the more weight I lost, the more my whole life changed.

“The plan helped me re-learn how to eat well and rebalance, and to eat real food too.

“It wasn’t about restriction, it was about making smarter choices.

“Instead of convenience foods and quick snacks, I was preparing meals that left me full and energised.

“Now, I make big hearty meals at home – things like homemade curries and roast dinners and I meal prep now so I have something healthy and filling on the road or on long days at work.

“I cook at home with my children and I’m creating healthy habits for them which means so much to me.”

Around four months later in May he had shed four stone and began exercising alongside his diet.

He said: “At first, walking around the block felt like a marathon.

“But I started small, walking with the kids, getting my steps in at lunch, and it became part of my routine.”

He continued on this journey for another year and a half before hitting his 12 stone target on December 24 2024.

Losing weight without weight loss jabs

James lost the weight without the use of weight loss jabs which he said he may have started losing if he hadn’t found Slimming World.

He said: “I think weight loss jabs have a place in society.

“I’m sure I would have considered using them if I hadn’t lost weight before they were properly known.

“But they need to be paired with proper nutrition as otherwise people will just become dependent whilst not eating properly which I don’t think is any good.”

Being 12 stone has transformed every part of James’s life.

He said: “Now, I go on weekend bike rides with my children and can spend all day on my feet without a problem.

Being an active dad means the world to me and I know being active is important to help me keep the weight off now

“I’ve also started regular sessions with my friend who’s a personal trainer, and that’s taken things to another level and I’m feeling stronger as well as fitter.

“Being an active dad means the world to me and I know being active is important to help me keep the weight off now.”

For all of his hard work James has been named Slimming World’s Man of the Year 2025.

He was nominated by the other members of his Littleport Slimming World group, before winning the national competition.

James said: “I found my nearest Slimming World group and I didn’t look back, now I’ve got the confidence, I’ve got the stamina, and I’m proud of myself for the first time in a long time.”

His weight loss has also given him the confidence to grow his own stand-up comedy business called Chuckl, which is now the UK’s largest comedy club.

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After realising his health had deteriorated, James turned to Slimming World for help and now weighs 12 stone[/caption]

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His wife Jenni had feared for his life after is weight gain[/caption]

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Weight loss gave James the confidence to grow his own stand-up comedy business[/caption]

And last month he attended the Edinburgh Fringe Festival alongside his business partner Harrison Salter, 35 where he was scouting for up and coming comedians to join their roster.

James said: “I’ve always loved comedy, but before losing weight I wouldn’t have been physically or mentally ready for something like the Fringe.

“Travelling, long days, late nights – it used to feel impossible – now, I get such a buzz from all it.

“Myself and Harrison started our business before I lost the weight, but I wasn’t in the right mindset or physical condition to really go for it.

“I had ambition, but my body, confidence, and energy levels weren’t in sync with that.

“Now, I’m able to put a lot more into it, in an evening I’m often researching acts or liaising with venues, before I would’ve been far too tired to do any of that”

Sharon Heaps, who runs the Littleport Slimming World group James attends, said: “James is such an asset to have in group – his honesty and, of course, his humour, have helped so many others on their journeys too.”