After years of treating my body badly, I now treat it well

Dylan Simkin, 49, had been overweight since his 20s and had a liver transplant in 2021. But after the op he hit 19 stone, so the maths tutor, from Atherstone, Warks, turned to his local Slimming World for help

Trying to take in the doctor's words as calmly as I could, inside I was reeling. Was I really facing a battle with liver disease? While my condition wasn't a direct result of my weight, it was a result of my heavy drinking, and I knew I wasn't helping matters by living an unhealthy lifestyle and being unfit.

I'd carried extra weight since my 20s, eating and drinking whatever I wanted more focused on having fun than my health.

Although I knew I probably needed to lose weight, I told myself I was just a big guy so didn't need to worry too much. This lifestyle caught up with me though and I became very ill in December 2019, which was when I received my life-changing diagnosis. I ended up needing urgent hospital treatment and eventually had a liver transplant in 2021. While the transplant was what I needed to feel well again, I found the recovery very tough. It was major surgery that kept me off my -feet for a long time.

As I couldn't be active post-surgery it made it even easier for me to gain especially as I weight was cheering myself up with sweets, chocolate, cakes and pies.

My friends and family were so supportive during this time, doing everything they could to make my recovery easier. Despite their help though, I still felt sluggish and unhealthy - even when I should have been on the mend. The date for me to return to work was looming, so I knew I had to do something to help me feel better about myself.