Man who struggled with his weight ‘all his life’ reveals how Aldi helped him lose 18st

A man who weighed 36 stone shared how Aldi help his lose half his body weight.

Neil Scurrah, 40, said he struggled with weight all of his life and tried various diets to lose the pounds.

But the former accountant, from Blackpool, said he sank into depression following the loss of his father in 2013.

He described how his diet spiralled out of control following the loss, leading to a six month binging bender in which Neil would eat and drink whatever eased his grief.

By the Christmas of that same year, Neil was struggling to physically get out of bed in the morning – weighing 36st and 10lbs.

Neil knew he had to do change his life – but every fad diet or exercise regime failed .

Eventually, he kickstarted his overhaul by taking part in dry January in 2014 for Cancer Research and then started on his weight loss journey the following month.

He started to eat healthily and the weight began to drop off, although he still allowed himself a healthier takeaway option twice a week, the occasional chocolate and biscuits to satisfy his sweet tooth and beers at the weekend.

The ex-accountant has now lost 18 stone and gives others looking to achieve the same results advice through his social media channel – the Real Loss Boss.

Talking in one of his videos posted to his TikTok page the.real.loss.boss , he advised shoppers at Aldi which “junk food” items they can enjoy while keeping to their calorie-controlled diet, Manchester Evening News reported.

He said: “The Real Loss Boss is at Aldi! You know those foods that you think you can’t eat while losing weight, well think again.”

“Weight loss isn’t about eating as few calories as possible, it’s about eating as many calories as possible whilst staying in a healthy sustainable calorie deficit that’s going to give decent results on the scales to keep you motivated.”

The weight loss coach then lists a number of Aldi’s products such as pizza, curry, and crisps which are not as calorie-filled as you might imagine.

First he showed Aldi’s ‘Carlos’ Stonebaked BBQ Chicken Pizza, which comes in at only 600 calories for the whole pizza.

He then picks up a four-pack of Aldi’s Skinny Beef Quarter Pounder Burgers, which are 5% fat. Neil pairs them with a pack of seeded burger buns and ‘Emporium’ light cheese slices, taking the total intake for one burger to just 320 calories.

Neil also shares a convenient option for those that don’t like to cook, Aldi’s SlimWell Chicken Saag, with a pack of microwavable Classic Basmati Rice. The meal uses 490 calories, far from the average of a takeaway curry with naan which stands at 1,338 calories.

Before his lifestyle change, a typical day before would have seen Neil consuming two to three bowls of Frosties for breakfast, followed by four slices of toast with lashings of butter, four scrambled eggs, a full tin of baked beans and a pack of bacon for lunch.

He would then have a Chinese takeaway for dinner which would consist of three starters, and a main course dish accompanied with rice and chips.

But Neil went from consuming up to 10,000 calories a day to between 2,500 to 3,000 calories, with a typical day consisting of protein yoghurt with berries and granola for breakfast, omelette with cheese, ham and vegetables for lunch, and chicken fajitas for dinner.

He also snacks on protein shakes, fruit, popcorn and a protein bar throughout the day and allows himself his favourite treats throughout the week.

Neil lifts weights six times a week, does two spinning sessions a week and makes sure he gets 10,000 steps in a day – and works as a personal trainer.

At 6ft 5in, he is now a svelte 18st 7lb, wears an XL shirt and has lost a remarkable 20-inches from his waist – measuring 38-inches.

He said: “I’ve got to be honest: I hated myself. Or should I say what I’d done to myself.

“My obesity had caused me to suffer on and off with depression from being in my late teens and just before I started my journey my mental health was rock bottom.

“In July 2013, I lost my dad after a short fight with aggressive renal cancer. He passed away thirteen weeks after diagnosis.

“After his passing, I basically went on a six month bender and by Christmas 2013 I was at my lowest.

“I was physically struggling to get out of bed and suffering with depression. On Boxing Day, I decided enough was enough and I needed to make a change.

“I didn’t want to go to extremes when changing my eating habits. Cutting everything out you enjoy makes you miserable, crave food groups and binge so I didn’t.”

Neil’s weight loss has not only boosted his confidence and helped him live the life he’s always wanted to – it led to him changing careers.

In May 2018, he qualified as a personal trainer and left his previous job as a company accountant and set up his own business, Real Loss Boss, to help others on their weight loss and fitness journeys.

Having lost an incredible amount of weight himself, Neil is able to fully understand and appreciate the challenges and triumphs his clients face.