‘You’re not going to be back next year’: Wake-up call that sparked Aussie dad’s 70kg weight loss

A Queensland dad has revealed how he lost 70kg in less than a year thanks to a wake-up call that changed his life.

Wake-up that sparked dad’s 70kg weight loss. Picture: Supplied

An Aussie dad has revealed how he dropped a whopping 70kg in less than a year thanks to a wake-up call that changed his life.

Paul Nugent, from Queensland, tipped the scales at 168kg in 2016. He had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea and high blood pressure.

The full-time truck driver’s daily diet consisted of junk food, alcohol, soft drinks and ice coffee.

“I was eating takeaways for breakfast, takeaways for lunch like hamburgers, Chiko Rolls,” the 58-year-old told news.com.au.

“Anything that was deep fried in takeaway shops, KFC, McDonald’s, Hungry Jack’s all day long with iced coffee and soft drink.

“Over a seven day period, I was probably drinking two cartons of beer and two bottles of rum a week. I was on the verge of being an alcoholic.”

Paul Nugent tipped the scales at 168kg in 2016. Picture: Supplied

The single father-of-four was hit with a sobering truth when his friends and then 12-year-old son told him: “You’re not going to be back next year. You are going to die.”

“I was gobsmacked. I was shocked and scared at the same time thinking, ‘Well, that’s a reality check’,” he said.

“I never thought of it, you never do. I was just so comfortable in my life and doing what I did, I did it every day.

“When your son at the age of 12 and your friends tell you that, it’s not good. It is a wake-up call.”

The father-of-four’s diet consisted of junk food, soft drinks and ice coffee. Picture: Supplied

Having tried a number of diets in the past, one of Paul’s co-workers inspired him to join the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan – a very low-calorie diet in which 415 to 1500 calories are consumed daily through a combination of meal replacement bars, smoothies, shakes and soups.

“He told me about this diet he was on for 12 months and he lost 86kg,” Mr Nugent recalled.

The driver put him in touch with his consultant Tamara, who Mr Nugent credits with the success of his diet.

“Tamara was my best friend, my guardian angel, my mentor and like a sister to me. She’s become a very good friend of mine now,” he said.

“She rings you every week to see how you are going and that is the ongoing thing because there is support after the diet, not just lose the weight and go away.

“It’s still there less than seven years, 10 years later and I still have support today from everyone from 1:1 Diet.”

Trading in bottles of Coke for shakes and French fries for protein and veggies, Mr Nugent lost a staggering 70kg in less than a year.

The truck driver lost a whopping 70kg in less than a year. Picture: Supplied

Eight years since his weight loss journey, Mr Nugent’s health has improved. He no longer has sleep apnoea, high blood pressure and his diabetes is under control.

While still on the road, the truckie said it’s important for him to maintain a healthy diet.

“[The diet] was a wake-up call to eat right,” he said.

“One night, I was at a truck stop and I had steak and salad for dinner.

“I do take most of my meals with me in the truck. I take salads with me and that’s what I eat on the road every day.”

Eight years since his weight loss journey, Mr Nugent’s health has improved. Picture: Supplied

Mr Nugent’s advice: ‘Do it for your kids. Do it for yourself.’ Picture: Supplied

Mr Nugent’s best advice for anyone who wants to lose weight is to “just do it because life is too short”.

“If you’re overweight, it’s going to take your life off you,” he said.

“Do it for your kids. Do it for yourself. Do it for your family.

“We’ve become an obese country over many years and it’s getting worse.

“But you want to do it, you do it. You’ve got to be in the right headspace to do it.”