AN award winning Masterchef who has cooked for the Royal Family is turning his hand to helping others after his own weight loss journey.
James Holden gained a reputation as being one of the NW regions top chefs, being invited into The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, an association of the UKs leading Head Chefs, Pastry Chefs and Restaurant managers after catering for a host of celebrities and dignitaries, including members of the Royal family.
However after knee replacement surgeries, James piled on the pounds and turned to Slimming World for help to get back in shape.
“I always thought I was able to manage my weight and through sport activities, exercised regularly. But after a knee replacement 8 years ago, football ended for me....which in turn slowed my exercise right down," said James.
"Weight gain, growing beer belly, indigestion, stomach ulcers and gall stones all came to create poor health, as well as added pressure on my other knee, which then needed replacing. This was the point when I needed to do something, and though I ate healthy meals, it was the snacks and drinks that were causing me the problem."
The 57-year-old then started at his local Slimming World Group in Rainford.
James now
He said: "I was not going to go every week to be told I had not lost any weight.
"The feeling of nervousness going the first time was soon forgotten, a friendly welcome, informed I could eat plenty of food, and given reading material to help me understand the program and process available to reach MY goal, not theirs, was just fantastic and I was sure I had made the right decision.
"Then after 9 months, I had lost in excess of 2 stone, reached my target weight and needed to by new clothes that fit properly, throw away the big baggy shirts jumpers and trousers showed just much of a difference it made.
"I have not had a single indigestion tablet since I started, I didn’t need to have a gall bladder operation, I do not have heartburn or reflux, and now have the same waist size I did when I left school.
"I am a new man, a man I feel comfortable as, healthy as, and look better as.
"I look at my before and after pictures, they are my inspiration and motivation to maintain this new me, this can be you too!”
James will be the new Slimming World consultant in Rainford, taking over the villages groups on Wednesdays and Saturdays from mid April, or starting from a suitable time post coronavirus outbreak.
He added: "I am looking forward to helping them as my “new family”, they are going to be my members now and like I have mentored young chefs and my own children, I look forward to helping them"
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here