A dad who ballooned to 24 stone after surviving on free takeaways says he feels like he has been given a “second chance at life” after losing an incredible eight stone.
Craig Frost says his battle with weight began in his early twenties after losing his job and taking work delivering kebabs and pizzas five days a week.
The 30-year-old was regularly offered free food by colleagues, something he says he simply could not afford to turn down.
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But what started as a practical way to save money soon spiralled into an unhealthy relationship with food, until he was wearing size 4XL.
“I got used to eating takeaways constantly and it just became normal life for me,” Craig, from Chester, Cheshire, told Need To Know.
“My downfall was definitely takeaways and fast food like McDonald’s, kebabs, pizzas, Chinese, Indian – basically far too many takeaways and massive portions.
“It became a habit more than anything, and convenience was a huge factor too.
“After a long day, ordering food felt easier than cooking something healthy.
“But my blood pressure was through the roof and I was on the verge of being pre-diabetic.”
A series of humiliating public moments forced Craig to confront how severely his weight was affecting his life.
One memory that still haunts him happened during a visit to Thorpe Park.
Craig, now a traffic planner, said: “I queued for about 45 minutes for a rollercoaster, finally sat down, and the safety harness wouldn’t go down far enough for the buckle to click in.
“Two staff members were literally trying to push it down on me to make it fit, but it just wouldn’t close.
“In the end I had to get off the ride while everybody watched.
“It was honestly humiliating and completely demoralising.”
Another painful incident unfolded while watching his beloved Ipswich Town away at Sheffield Wednesday – when Craig found himself unable to fit through the turnstiles.
He said: “I tried squeezing through but the gate wouldn’t turn.
“I had to back out and use the disabled entrance instead.
“There’s obviously absolutely no shame in using a disabled entrance, but in that sort of football environment, with all the banter and crowds around you, I felt incredibly embarrassed because I knew the only reason I couldn’t get through was because of my weight.
“Looking back now, I realise how much my size controlled my life and knocked my confidence.
“It got to the point where I couldn’t even shop in normal stores anymore because most places didn’t stock my size.
“I had to order everything online, which was quite depressing in itself because it constantly reminded me how big I’d become.”
The biggest turning point, however, came with the birth of his son, Arlo, now four.
Craig said: “Becoming a dad completely changed my mindset.
“I wanted to be a role model for him.
“I wanted him to grow up proud of his dad and I wanted to actually enjoy life with him instead of sitting on the sidelines because I was overweight, tired or embarrassed.
“It suddenly stopped being just about weight loss and became about being present for my son and giving myself a better future too.”
Having tried countless diets and plans without success, Craig decided to try Mounjaro after hearing about it on TikTok and seeing other people undergo dramatic transformations.
He started taking the weight loss medication at the end of January 2025 and now injects once a week at the highest 15mg dose.
The treatment currently costs him around £300 a month, paid from his wages.
Craig said: “I’d tried so many different diets and plans over the years and I failed every single time.
“I’d lose a bit of weight, then put it all back on again – it became exhausting mentally.
“By the time I discovered Mounjaro, I genuinely felt like I had nothing left to lose.
“I thought if I didn’t try something different, my life was only going to keep getting worse.
“I was massively nervous.
“When the first pen arrived, it literally sat in my fridge for four days because I kept putting it off.
“I nearly didn’t do it at all – I think because there’s so much talk online around weight loss injections, side effects and people’s opinions, I was really anxious about starting.
“But eventually I thought, ‘If I don’t do this now, nothing is going to change’.”
Since beginning treatment, Craig has lost a remarkable eight stone and now weighs around 16 stone.
Craig says the medication has not only changed his body but completely transformed his relationship with food.
He added: “I wear a size large in clothing, which still feels surreal to say out loud after being a 4XL.
“I genuinely can’t even fully put it into words.
“It sounds dramatic, but I honestly feel like I’ve been given my life back.
“Physically, I feel healthier, fitter and more confident.
“Simple things that used to leave me exhausted are easy now.
“Mentally, the difference is unbelievable.
“My confidence has completely changed and I’m happier than I’ve been in years.
“For the first time in a long time, I actually look forward to doing things instead of worrying about whether my weight will hold me back or embarrass me.
“It honestly feels like a second chance at life.”
BEFORE DIET
- Breakfast: Skip
- Lunch: A meal deal, chocolate, sweets, pastries and share bags of crisps.
- Dinner: A takeaway or large portions of home-cooked food
- Snacks: Two cheesecakes every week
AFTER DIET
- Breakfast: Cereal or a protein yogurt with a banana
- Lunch: A wrap with low-calorie crisps or a protein-based meal
- Dinner: Home-cooked meals with proper portion control
- Snacks: No snacking
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