A father-of-two has shed practically half his body weight after he was denied helicopter transport to his offshore job as a consequence of weight restrictions.
Dan Shilling, a 39-year-old electrical technician, tipped the scales at 26st 1lb (166kg) at his heaviest in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 6ft-tall father was typically unable to board the helicopter to the offshore rig, incomes him the nickname “Massive Dan” amongst colleagues.
A turning level got here when a mere 50-metre stroll at work left him breathless and sweating.
Recognising the necessity for change, Shilling joined the Man v Fats programme at his native football membership in January 2024.
The outcomes have been dramatic – Shilling has misplaced 10st 9lbs (68kg), dropping from a 4XL to an XL in clothes dimension and shedding 10 inches from his waist.
Now weighing 15st 6lbs (98kg), he reviews feeling “hundreds higher” and is relishing his function as a associate to his girlfriend Emma and father to his two daughters, five-year-old Betsy and four-month-old Elsie.
Dan instructed PA Actual Life: “I’ve truly obtained a folder on my cellphone, I’ve obtained an album referred to as Fats Me.
“Trying again at all the things from then to now, you realise how far you’ve come.
“It’s unbelievable. I nonetheless can’t imagine it myself.”
Dan mentioned he was “at all times larger” throughout his teenage years and, though he performed sport, reminiscent of rugby, soccer and squash, he struggled along with his weight.
“I wouldn’t say I used to be fats as such, however I used to be at all times obese,” he mentioned.
“Once I began working correctly, I grew into my physique, however I used to be nonetheless obese.”
In the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dan was engaged on an oil platform west of the Shetland Islands and travelling to Aberdeen, which means he was typically away from dwelling.
Whereas offshore he was consuming the self-serve meals offered, which included a full English breakfast, bacon rolls, lasagne for lunch, biscuits and cake within the afternoon and shepherd’s pie or steak for dinner.
He mentioned his exercise was “non-existent” and his weight steadily elevated – though he didn’t realise it on the time.
“Whereas I’m offshore, when you don’t eat at the moment, you don’t eat as such, so you’re feeling like it’s a must to,” he mentioned.
“I didn’t realise how massive I used to be getting and, though we weigh in – every time you come offshore, you weigh in as a result of they want it for the helicopter weights – I wasn’t registering that it was creeping up.”
Throughout this time, his associate Emma misplaced her father to cancer and Dan mentioned he was subjected to office bullying.
He mentioned “all the things that would go flawed was going flawed” and his mental health deteriorated.
“Being a typical man, as an alternative of speaking about my points I spiralled and tried to search out consolation in meals, which led me to piling on the load and changing into an disagreeable particular person,” he mentioned.
At this level, Dan mentioned he was nonetheless consuming the meals at work, together with 1,200-calorie Marabou chocolate bars each evening, and he reached his heaviest weight of 26st 1lbs (166kg).
After Emma instructed him “a number of dwelling truths”, Dan visited his GP and was recognized with despair and prescribed anti-depressants.
“I wasn’t actually there, I used to be simply current,” he mentioned.
In 2023, Dan discovered one other job engaged on a gasoline platform within the East Irish Sea, flying out of Blackpool.
With this new job his temper lifted and he was “typically happier”, however he mentioned his weight grew to become a difficulty and he was recurrently being left behind due to helicopter weight limits.
“The place I’m working, we fly out every day they usually have to have the ability to carry a specific amount of gasoline, they name it the payload,” he defined.
“If I’m sat within the helicopter weighing 160 kilos, that’s numerous weight for the helicopter to have to hold, so I might very often get left behind as a result of I used to be the simple one to knock off the listing.”
At some point in December 2023, Dan mentioned he was going offshore and he was “pouring with sweat and out of breath” strolling simply 50 metres from the terminal constructing to the helicopter.
He mentioned he discovered it tough to lock his seat belt within the helicopter and, at this level, he thought: “That is sufficient.”
He then signed as much as Man v Fats Soccer Norwich West, together with the Sofa to 5K programme, and made a dedication to alter his life from January 2024 onwards.
About 8,500 males presently participate at greater than 150 Man v Fats Soccer golf equipment throughout the UK.
“I made a promise to myself that I might not be the heaviest particular person on the group,” Dan mentioned.
Dan additionally began counting his energy and monitoring his parts at work, and he centered on growing his every day step depend.
Inside the first three months, he mentioned he misplaced 3st 4lbs (21kg) and, up to now, he has misplaced practically 11 stone.
Dan now weighs about 15st 6lbs (98kg) and is ready to put on garments from when he was 20 years previous once more.
“I’ve nonetheless obtained some garments from again then and I’m now sporting them once more,” he mentioned.
“I haven’t had to purchase a brand new wardrobe as a result of I’ve nonetheless obtained my previous one.”
Dan has additionally taken up working and he plans to participate within the Rome Marathon 2026 to have a good time turning 40.
Whereas he nonetheless enjoys candy treats and fast-food from time to time, he now has a more healthy way of life and is not taking antidepressants.
Requested for his recommendation to others, he mentioned: “Simply stick with the fundamentals – energy in versus energy out. That’s all I’ve achieved.
“I’d be glad consuming a KFC so long as I am going for a run to cancel it out and I’ve obtained the energy spare.”
Dan has been chosen for Man v Fats Soccer’s annual Wonderful Losers match, which this 12 months takes place at Leyton Orient’s dwelling floor in Brisbane Highway, east London, on Could 23.
To search out out extra, go to: manvfat.com/soccer
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