Bullied boy named slimmer of the year...

A TEENAGER bullied mercilessly at school because he was fat was named Young Slimmer of the Year.

Jack Mitchell, 18, from Sunderland, lost 7 1/2 stone over two years to earn the title. He was taunted at school about his size after his weight peaked at 20 stone when he was 16.

He said: “I was taunted about my weight by pupils and a teacher. As the bullying got worse I hid away at home, I was afraid to go out anywhere. By the age of 16 I felt totally worthless and had no self-esteem or confidence.

“I’d only go out to visit family friends in their own homes.

“The last straw was when I reached over 20 stone; I went to my favourite store to buy clothes and couldn’t find anything to fit. I knew I had to do something to change my life.”

Mitchell began attending Slimming World meetings to help him lose weight in July 2006 and switched to a healthy diet. “I could never have reached my target without their help. I’ve made so many close friends in the group now, we’re like one big family.”

He hopes to become a cast member at Walt Disney World Florida.

He said: “I love everything about Disney and would love to go and live overseas. Losing weight has been the best life-changing experience.”... and this is how he lost 7 1/2 stone

BEFORE Jack Mitchell became aware of healthy eating he would regularly snack on junk food and fizzy drinks.

Like many teenagers he often skipped breakfast, and then satisfied his hunger pangs with a mid-morning snack of custard creams, washed down with Coca Cola.

His favourite lunch was processed turkey burgers and oven chips, which he supplemented with a chocolate bar in the late afternoon.

His evening meal of choice was a takeaway and he often spent the evenings grazing on sausage rolls and chocolate biscuits.

When his weight reached 20 stone, Jack decided to change his eating habits and began taking regular exercise.

He joined his local Slimming World group and started going for long walks every day with his mother.

He said: “Now that I’ve lost weight I exercise regularly — my mam and I go out for long walks even if it’s raining, and I don’t get out of breath.

“I love being able to fill up on things like pasta and potatoes. And there is so much choice — no food is banned.”

He starts the day with a high-fibre breakfast of Weetabix with fruit and skimmed milk.

Lunch is often eggs, bacon, low-fat sausage and mushrooms, followed by a fruit snack later in the afternoon. And his favourite dinners are now homemade burgers with red onion, chilli and salad, and spaghetti carbonara made with low fat fromage frais.