THIRTY-STONE Iain Playdon has shed more than half his bodyweight — but he didn’t do it by giving up eating bacon and eggs, chicken curry and roast dinners.

He took 10 months to lose 15 stone after joining a slimming club in Kennington in February, despite still tucking into his favourite dishes.

'It is all about everything in moderation - if I happen to overindulge one weekend, you just take things more easy for the next few days'

Iain Playdon

'It is all about everything in moderation - if I happen to overindulge one weekend, you just take things more easy for the next few days'

Iain Playdon

'It is all about everything in moderation - if I happen to overindulge one weekend, you just take things more easy for the next few days'

Iain Playdon

'It is all about everything in moderation - if I happen to overindulge one weekend, you just take things more easy for the next few days'

Iain Playdon

And the 33-year-old is set for a shopping spree after saving £210 by putting away £1 for every pound in weight he lost.

He now tips the scales at just under 15 stone.

Mr Playdon, who recently moved to Hambleside, in Bicester, to be closer to his daughter Julia, said: “I can now do so much more with my daughter since I started losing weight.

“I have been eating large helpings of the likes of pasta, jacket potatoes, roast dinners, barbecues, savoury rice dishes, bacon and eggs, spaghetti bolognese and chicken curry, without breaking the bank.

“I no longer dread going to the cinema as I am able to sit comfortably in the seats, and a couple of weeks ago I went swimming with her for the first time in seven years.

“When I joined the slimming class I was close to 30 stone and only getting bigger.

“I was even afraid to know how much I weighed.”

His weight loss was so fast, Slimming World consultant Lucy Bates urged him to talk to his GP.

However, everything was fine.

Mr Playdon, who is 6ft 3in tall and works as a manager for courier service DHL, said: “I couldn’t believe how quickly I was dropping the pounds, despite still being able to eat my favourite foods.

“It is all about everything in moderation.

“If I happen to overindulge one weekend, you just take things more easy for the next few days.

“It was my fault I had put on so much weight, and so it was my responsibility to lose it.

“I’m now looking forward to getting a new wardrobe with the money I saved.

“The group was such a help, because I got so much support from everybody.

“I am delighted with my new look.”

Before his weight loss, Mr Playdon would not eat any set meals, instead grazing on junk food — including chocolate, crisps and pasties — all day long.

Now he eats cereal with semi-skimmed milk for breakfast, a wholemeal sandwich for lunch and a dinner of his choosing.

He snacks on fruit and low-calorie cereal bars.

Mr Playdon said he was put on his first diet when hewas nine.

Commenting on the rise in childhood obesity and the National Child Measurement Programme (see right) he said: “You don’t want children worrying too much about this sort of this – kids are kids. But if a child gets too big, parents must take responsibilty.”

Ms Bates has run the group for two years, having been a member herself. She said: “We are all delighted for Iain. He followed the programme and has achieved amazing results.”