NSW man who weighed 225kg reveals his secret to weight loss

An Aussie has revealed how he lost 117kg in less than a year thanks to a simple change in how he approached food.

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A hospitality worker has revealed how he dropped from 225kg to 108kg in just 11 months thanks to a simple change in how he approached food.

Nathan Whittaker runs a pub in Dapto, NSW, and was often working odd and long hours, eating big meals at the end of the day and heavy drinking, leading him to reach 225kg.

But, after a hernia led him to needing surgery and he was forced to undergo a six-month recovery, he knew he wanted to change his life.

“As a typical male probably realistically didn’t want to get see a doctor – and I did see a doctor but I didn’t do much about the actual hernia until it became a strangulation,” he told news.com.au.

Nathan weighed 225kg. Picture: Supplied

The hospo worker drank and ate a lot at the end of the day. Picture: Supplied

He needed surgery but medical staff were concerned about his weight, saying the procedure would be risky. There likely wouldn’t be a straight forward healing process – and doctors were correct.

Nathan needed a second surgery due to complications from the first operation and, as he had his surgery during Covid, he felt isolated and alone as he recovered.

“Once I’d had the surgery I was probably depressed, I guess really from everything that was happening, but then I just hit that light bulb moment,” he said.

“There was obviously an issue and I needed to fix that.”

He started exercising after losing 50kg. Picture: Supplied

Nathan said he had tried several different diets before settling on food delivery service Lite n’ Easy.

“It was so convenient because everything was planned for you,” he said.

“With other diets, when you try and buy your own food, you end up eating the same things so you get bored of it and your commitment goes out the window.”

Nathan, who said convenience was key, was on an 1800 calorie diet and lost the weight quite quickly, and began exercising after he lost 50kg.

He ran the City 2 Surf. Picture: Supplied

He feels like he's changed his life. Picture: Supplied

At first, he couldn’t walk to the letter box but soon was walking 30 minutes a day before setting a goal of taking part in the City to Surf.

He started walking 10km a day and has competed in the running competition for the last two years.

Since, he’s reverted back to his 30-minute daily walks as the 10km wasn’t sustainable – but he can smash out 30,000 steps in an hour on the treadmill.

In 11 months, Nathan lost 117kg – something that once felt impossible.

“I honestly feel brand new – like I’m a different person,” he said. “I’m better in life, better at work, which in turn is better for the business.”