"I've lost 8st and got my life back - I’ve got energy, confidence and a future I’m excited about"
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A Sheffield man has turned his life around after losing an incredible 8st 3lbs and earning a place in the semi-finals of a national Slimming World competition. Along the way, he even got a personal congratulations from footballing legend Paul Merson.
Jake Hawkes, 29, was chosen out of thousands of men who attend Slimming World groups across the UK and Ireland to attend the semi-finals of Slimming World’s 2025 Man of the Year competition. He was joined by 41 other inspiring men at the organisation’s head office in Derbyshire – and says the whole experience was “unforgettable.”
Jake, who slimmed from 21st 2lbs to 12st 13lbs, says: “I’d been unhappy with my weight for a while but didn’t really know what to do about it. I found my local Slimming World group after a friend of mine received a leaflet through their door and we decided to join together in a three.
"I didn’t know what to expect, but I was welcomed with open arms and no judgment, just support. I soon realised I wasn’t alone. Everyone there understood exactly how I felt, and the group quickly became my weekly reset. Together we talk and plan for the week ahead and how to navigate situations that may send us off track, and that’s been key to keeping me motivated.
"Even on weeks I’ve not felt like it, the group has been there to get me going again. I love how flexible with food I can be and that I can still eat all my favourite meals like steak with chips and tender stem broccoli too, and I don’t feel like I’m restricting myself. It’s incredible how you can eat so much and still lose weight. I always tell people how I actually eat more now than I did before, it’s just healthier food now.”
Thanks to Slimming World’s Food Optimising plan, Jake found the weight steadily came off. He began to feel more energetic and when his Consultant started to talk about Slimming World’s physical activity support programme, Jake liked the sound of that too.
He says: “My Consultant Caroline talked about all the benefits of moving more and despite never thinking I’d enjoy exercise, I decided to give it a go. I started by going to the gym and gradually building it up and now I go pretty much every day and have seen a massive improvement both physically and mentally.
"I’ve learnt that keeping the weight off long-term isn’t just about what you eat, it’s about being active too and now I really look forward to getting out and moving my body.”
Now 8st 3lbs lighter, Jake says he was over the moon to be invited to the Slimming World Man of the Year 2025 semi-finals.
He says: “My group gave me the confidence to know I could reach my target, they helped me to start to believe in myself and my ability to lose weight right from my very first group, and being here today 8st lighter is unreal. On top of that, being at the semi-finals of the Man of the Year competition, surrounded by people who’ve changed their lives like I have and then meeting Paul Merson has been unforgettable. We had a chat about my journey and the changes I had made, and he was so down-to-earth.”
Former England and Arsenal star Paul Merson, who’s spoken openly in the media about his own health struggles, said he was blown away by Jake’s achievement: “What Jake’s done is nothing short of incredible. Losing that amount of weight takes real commitment. But what impressed me even more is how happy and confident he is now. He’s clearly made changes he can stick to for life – and that’s what it’s all about.”
Jake’s Slimming World Consultant, Caroline Hawson, who runs the Brinsworth group, says: “We’re all so proud of Jake. He’s proof that when you’ve got the right tools, the right food, and the right people around you, anything is possible. Slimming World isn’t about going it alone; we support people no matter their starting point – including those taking weight-loss medication.
"We understand that starting any weight loss journey takes courage and there’s no judgement for anybody taking weight loss injections. It’s essential though that anyone losing weight creates healthy habits so that they can maintain their any weight loss in the long term though – and that’s where Slimming World comes in. We support our members to build a healthy, balanced lifestyle around real food, activity and support – things that work in the long run.”
Now, with a new lease of life and renewed energy Jake says he’s looking forward to the future. He says: “I’ve got my life back. I’ve got energy, confidence, and a future I’m excited about. If there’s someone reading this who feels like I used to, I’d just say, give it a go, it’s been life-changing for me.”
The Brinsworth group, led by Caroline, meets every Wednesday evening at 3:30pm and 6:30pm at Brinsworth Social Club.
To find out more or join the group, call Caroline on 07857 979258.
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