Man halved weight to do 17 hour triathlon

A man who once struggled to get in and out of his own car will take on an ironman challenge after losing half of his body weight.

James Baker from Cheltenham branded himself "the happiest fat kid you'd ever meet" but was unhappy with his weight and, into adulthood, struggled to play with his two children at 38st (241kg).

Before Covid, Mr Baker changed his lifestyle and went on a calorie-restricted diet in preparation for gastric sleeve surgery, which made his stomach the same size as an apple.

He has lost 19.5st (124kg) and will take on the 17-hour ironman race in Leeds on 27 July, which involves a 2.4 mile (3.8 km) swim and a 112-mile (180 km) bike ride, followed by a marathon.

Mr Baker stopped playing rugby into adulthood due to a shoulder injury.

"My weight spiralled and I got up to a maximum of 38st... it was horrible," he said.

"I struggled to get in and out of my own car so I swapped cars with my partner because hers was bigger."

Before the pandemic, Mr Baker was due to have weight loss surgery in the UK and had to go on a restricted calorie diet in order to lose 3st (19kg) in preparation.

Mr Baker continued dieting and lost 10st (64kg) after the surgery fell through.

When the pandemic hit, Mr Baker said he gained weight again, but was eventually able to have gastric sleeve surgery in Egypt.

Gastric sleeve surgery involves removing 80% of the stomach so it feels full sooner and less food is then needed to be eaten.

"It was a tool to help me get to a place where I can manage my exercise and keep on top of nutrition," he said.

"Even this week, we've been to Alton Towers which is something I never would have done before because I just wouldn't have fitted in the rides."

After running triathlons, Mr Baker is looking forward to taking part in the Leeds ironman event this month, although he said the bike ride and marathon will be hilly.

"I've been training for it for a while now," he said.

"My family are coming with me to support, it's going to be a good day."

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