Couch to 5K Challenge Leads to Over 15 Stone Weight Loss

Running has “transformed” the life of a man who shed 15 stone (95kg) following his participation in the Couch to 5K Challenge. Two years prior, Colin McCormick, a resident of West Derby, Liverpool, was confined to his home and contended with various health issues and depression. His weight had reached 28 stone (177kg) due to years of daily consumption of nearly 8,000 calories from takeaways and junk food. The 42-year-old decided to change his lifestyle after receiving a warning that he might have only a few years remaining to live. He subsequently joined a local running club and significantly altered his diet. Mr. McCormick, employed as a local taxi driver, had developed high cholesterol and blood pressure, in addition to experiencing sleep apnoea and Bell’s palsy. He informed BBC Radio Merseyside that his mental health suffered when he was at his heaviest weight. He stated, “I was stuck in bed for long periods of time. It was a bad time for me.” He added, “I was quite a loner. Because I was quite big I couldn’t go out.” The weight loss has led to improvements in his friendships and his relationship with his 15-year-old daughter. He currently runs three to four times weekly, participating in park runs and half marathons. He commented, “I’ve come a long way and pretty much met a new friendship group. Now me and my run club do everything together.” Before becoming a member of Liverpool Running Bugs, Mr. McCormick began by walking several thousand steps daily. However, he described the journey as challenging and admitted he nearly withdrew. He recalled, “I remember sitting outside, I was 22 stone, and I thought, I can’t walk in here.” He continued, “I could barely run. But I built up the courage, I walked in, and luckily I met a lot of people and some of them have become really close friends.” Now weighing 13 stone (82kg), Mr. McCormick aims to motivate others by sharing inspirational messages with his 86,000 Instagram followers. He stated, “I’ve had over 15 million views, so if I can just help 0.01% of them, I just want to give, because I had to get a little bit of help from people to succeed.” He advised, “You don’t need to be running straight away, you don’t even need to be walking.” He concluded, “If you just get up, have a little dance… any movement is better than no movement.” Listeners interested in the best of BBC Radio Merseyside can find it on Sounds, and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be sent to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk, external, or via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC states it is not responsible for the content of external sites, and further details on their approach to external linking are available.