A CUMNOCK man has described how he's managed to lose more than a third of his body weight in just a year and a half...and he's not finished yet.

David Walker weighed 36 stone when his stepfather died a year and a half ago - prompting David to decide the time was right to make a change in his own life.

Since setting out on his weight loss mission, David has shed 12-and-a-half stone - but he's not resting on his laurels.

David said: "Starting the journey was partly to do with my step-dad's passing and partly to do with me feeling it was the right time to get the weight off.

"I'm aiming to lose 18 stone in total. When I started the diet I was wearing a size 64 waist in trousers and a 7XL t-shirt. Now I'm down to 50/52 waist trouser and a 3-4XL top.

Cumnock Chronicle: David marking the milestone.David marking the milestone. (Image: Slimming World Cumnock Elaine)

"It's just basically about having that lifestyle change, eating the right things and making the small steps."

Feeling it was the right time to make a change in his own life, David joined a Cumnock Slimming World group run by Elaine Marshall.

David added: "I notice it when I'm walking past and I glance in the mirror and think 'who's that?'.

"The support has been brilliant. The fact I've got Elaine there has been amazing.

"My sister is doing Slimming World as well so their support makes all the difference.

"My mum is eating what I'm eating, so she's inadvertently losing weight at the same time.

Cumnock Chronicle: David started out at 36 stone.David started out at 36 stone. (Image: Slimming World Cumnock Elaine)

"My advice to others would be to give it a go. Don't give up and believe that you can do it, because it will be worth it."

Now that David feels fit enough, he is planning to take on the Glasgow Kiltwalk this April to raise money for a charity close to his heart.

💙💙 L 👀 K I N G For Inspiration Meet David 12 1/2 Stone Lighter 💙💙 David One Of My Cumnock Members Picked Up His New...

Posted by Slimming World Cumnock Elaine on Sunday, 3 March 2024

He said: "I'm doing the Kiltwalk for Lymphoma Action.

"I lost my step-dad and I lost one of my aunties to Lymph node cancer, so it's something I wanted to do to support that charity.

"I considered doing it last year, but the more I thought about it, I wasn't really fit enough to do it.

"Now it's the right time and it's a good way to honour my step-dad and auntie."

If you'd like to support David's Kiltwalk journey, in memory of stepfather Robert Hanna and aunt Tracey MacNeish, you can make a donation by going to https://bit.ly/3IsETlF.