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Teacher Loses 14.5 Stone After Switching To Keto Diet And Taking Up Boxing

Teacher Loses 14.5 Stone After Switching To Keto Diet And Taking Up Boxing

Derek Goforth lost the equivalent of a whole other man in weight and now wants to become a personal trainer

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

A British teacher living in Australia lost a load of body weight - equivalent to another grown man - by changing his life, diet and exercise regime because he was worried he was setting a bad example to his students.

Just a few years ago, dad-of-three Derek Goforth tipped the scales at around 200kgs - that's about 440lbs, or 31.5 stone, depending on which measurement you want to use.

Derek used to tip the scales at 440lbs.
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Now, he has shed 14.5 stone (92 kg; 203lbs) of that weight by adopting a new diet, taking up boxing and - crucially - showing some good ol' fashioned grit and determination.

To put his achievement into context, the average male weighs in at 13.3 stone in the UK. In Australia that figure is slightly - though not much - higher. It's also almost half of Derek's original body weight.

Now, Derek even has ambitions of becoming a personal trainer.

He looks a lot different now.
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So how the hell do you shift that amount of timber in just a few short years?

Well, Derek, who is originally from Hull, East Yorkshire, explained: "I have always been a bigger kid, bigger teen, bigger adult.

"I made so many excuses for my unhealthy behaviour, convinced myself I was happy being big and I deluded myself into believing it didn't stop me doing things.

"I also developed several health issues - type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing issues. I stood on the scales and saw I was about to tip over 200kgs.

"But seeing my kids being active in Australia, participating in sport, swimming, playing with their friends, I decided that enough was enough."

Derek wanted to lose the weight as he was worried he was setting a bad example for his pupils.
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He continued: "Ultimately, how could I be a role model for my kids, my students, if I led such a bad lifestyle?

"I had to be honest with myself and stop blaming others.

"My school motto is Respect, Aspire, Resilience. I had to follow all three of those to improve my life."

Cool, but that's very easy to say - slightly harder to do.

Here he is now...
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Derek continued: "I love my meat, love my barbecue and boy, do I love my bacon.

"The Keto diet/Low carb diet was the one for me. I cut out all sugar, all grains, bread, pasta - all gone.

"I upped my healthy fats and protein and made everything from scratch, even growing our own veg and keeping a lot of chickens for plenty of eggs."

Since taking up boxing, he's had great success.
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That's the diet down, but what about the exercise?

Derek added: "I love boxing and did a bit as a kid. I found a great boxing gym at Geraldton Boxing Centre with a trainer called Paul Barrett.

"Paul was awesome. He pushed me hard, but not hard enough to break me.

"It was Paul who suggested training to fight in a big charity boxing event, which I did this March.

"I didn't win, but I fought my heart out and won the affection of the crowd. I still box, but also do Crossfit, which is pushing me even further."

In case you're keen to take on a similar - if perhaps slightly less dramatic - challenge, Derek has a few bits of advice for anyone wishing to follow a similar path.

It's not been easy, but he's managed it.
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"I have found that there is no such thing as a diet, it's a life," he explained. "I've had to change all aspects of my life.

"My long-term ambition is to box again next year and to eventually get my qualification to become a personal trainer.

"I would love to show everyone out there that no matter how heavy you get, how unfit you become, simple sensible changes will make the difference that will change your life for the better."

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Topics: uk news, Daily Ladness