A morbidly obese father said it was his daughter that prompted him to turn his life around two years ago and he has since shed a staggering 105 kilograms.
James Somerville, 33, carried 219 kilograms across his 198 centimetre frame due to a vicious cycle of bad habits when he was confronted by his daughter Hannah.
‘She came up to me and said “are you going to walk me down the aisle?” and I said “of course sweetheart” – she was eight at the time,’ Mr Somerville said.
James Somerville, 33, carried 219 kilograms across his 198 centimetre frame due to a vicious cycle of bad habits before he underwent gastric bypass surgery and hit the gym
‘Then she turned around and said to me “are you going to be alive though?”.’
‘It blew me away and I just sunk down into my seat and thought gee am I actually going to be alive?,’ he said.
James and his wife Sarah, 34, both struggled with their weight and began to start seeing a doctor to discuss what they could do to prolong their lives.
Last June, after a 12 month wait period, the pair underwent gastric bypasses at Wakefield Calvary Hospital, in Adelaide, on the same day in what is known as a ‘couple’s date’.
The father of two said the initial operation took away half his weight and a healthy diet combined with relentless exercise has wiped the rest away in just over a year.
‘I live in the gym now, I’m there like six days a week and we eat pretty healthy, we eat Hello Fresh as it’s fairly simple,’ he said.
The father of two said the initial operation took away half his weight and a healthy diet combined with relentless exercise has wiped the rest away in just over a year
Mr Somerville said the harsh question from his daughter was the wake up call he needed.
‘My doctor said to me that I was ready to die, I was a type two diabetic injecting insulin six times a day, my blood pressure was through the roof and I was a ticking time bomb,’ he said.
‘The words the doctor used weren’t enough to scare me though, I didn’t take notice and thought I was okay.
‘If it hadn’t been for my daughter I likely wouldn’t be here today,’ he said.
Mr Somerville said it was only when his daughter Hannah (left), 10 confronted him that he and his wife Sarah (centre) decided to get the operation – also pictured is his nine-year-old son Charlie (right)
Mr Somerville has now lost his type two diabetes and although he has shed the weight he still struggles with body issues related to his excess skin.
‘I still feel ugly and I still feel like I’m this gigantic fat a** but I’m starting to see change. My mindset has changed, and I want to be the best me I can,’ he said.
‘It’s the small victories like going on a plane for the first time without needing a seat belt extender.’
Due to complications with IVF treatment his wife was only able to receive a partial gastric bypass due to medical complications but has still lost an incredible 40 kilos.
Mr Somerville, pictured left after one month of recent weight loss, said he still struggles with body issues around his excess skin
Mr Somerville said through his weight loss he was even able to inspire others in his family.
‘My brother-in-law was struggling with his weight and health and after seeing what I went through, he booked in for the surgery as well,’ he said.
‘He has lost nearly 70kg himself and is now able to lead a more fulfilling life.’
The father said he came from a family of large people and his wife gained weight after hormone therapy which helped her give birth to their two children.
But they are now focused on making sure they do not pass on the same mistakes to their kids.
Mr Somerville said he now ‘lives in the gym’ and he and Ms Somerville are doing their best to teach their kids healthy eating and exercise habits
Mr Somerville said through his weight loss he was even able to inspire others in his family such as his brother-in-law who has gone on to lose 70 kilograms
‘I am regularly having conversations with my kids about eating balanced diets to avoid them having to go through what mum and dad had to go through,’ he said.
‘I also regularly get my kids to be active because it is vital for them to maintain healthy active lifestyles to set the standards for when they’re older.’
Mr Somerville said he can’t guarantee he won’t regain some of the weight but added he has chosen to make better decisions for his family and himself and can’t see his life turning back to the way it was.