Weight loss gets Chris a seal of approval from former England star Merson

7ST LOSS DESCRIBED BY FOOTBALLER AS ‘NOTHING SHORT OF INCREDIBLE’

- By TELEGRAPH REPORTER

A DERBY man has turned his life around after losing 7st 5lb and earning a place in the semifinals of a national Slimming World competition. Along the way, he even got a personal congratulations from footballing legend Paul Merson.

Chris Tucker, 62, was chosen out of thousands of men who attend Slimming World groups across the UK and Ireland to attend the semifinals of Slimming World's 2025 Man of the Year competition. He was joined by 41 other inspiring men at the organisation’s head office in Derbyshire - and described the whole experience as “unforgettable.”

Chris, who slimmed from 20st 7Ib to 13st 11.5Ib, says: “I'd been unhappy with my weight for a while but didn’t really know what to do about it. I found my local Slimming World group after my sister recommended it to me.

“T didn’t know what to expect, but I was welcomed with open arms and no judgment, just support. I soon realised I wasn’t alone. Everyone there understood exactly how I felt, and the group quickly became my weekly reset.

“Together we talk and plan for the week ahead and how to navigate situations that may send us off track, and that’s been key to keeping me motivated.