Simon’s weight loss transformation started in 2019 when he was 21 stone. The 40-year-old managing director of Luxury Family Hotels now weighs a healthy 15 stone.
After losing his mother at aged 15, Simon said he turned to “food, alcohol, and painkillers to hide the trauma”.
He started piling on the pounds and became overweight.
However, in 2019, the now 40-year-old decided something had to be done about it.
He started to cut some foods from his diet, as well as alcohol, and began doing regular exercise.
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Simon stressed that weight loss is about “consistency and progress”.
His journey was gradual, going from drinking daily to only once a week to not at all.
In terms of diet, Simon said he “cut out processed snack foods and replaced them with nuts, fruits, and seed”.
As for meals, he said: “One meal is a salad – either lunch or dinner – and it is normally big with lots of tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, cucumber, spring onions, and butternut squash.
However, Simon’s “biggest challenge yet” was to take part in Iron Man, for which he is still currently training for.
Exercise has helped the 40-year-old to lose weight but, mostly, has improved both his physical and mental health.
Simon explained: “After many years of hiding from the grief of losing my mother, turning to alcohol, painkillers and food, I finally faced my loss head on – running towards it, quite literally.
“Over the last few years I have given up alcohol, stabilised my weight, and stopped using painkiller medication.
“But, most crucially, in 2021 I decided to take on my biggest challenge yet – preparing for an Iron Man, which will see me swim 3.8km, cycle 180km and run 42km all on the same day.”
He added: “My advice to anyone facing challenges or looking to make New Year resolutions is to go for it – 2021 has been a tough year for many, for me personally taking on a life-changing challenge has given me the drive and motivation to move forwards positively.
“My biggest learning is that it’s about progress and consistency, not perfection – taking the steps towards your goals every day.”