Weight loss: My ex-wife saved me from killing myself after getting so fat left me depressed
A MORBIDLY obese man on the brink of taking his own life claims his ex-wife saved him - by helping him lose weight.
Neil Sharp was so depressed by his super-sized frame he planned suicide.
The 38-year-old from Airdrie, Scotland never knew exactly what he weighed after his bathroom scales hit their maximum of 40st.
His huge frame effected every part of his life, ending his marriage and leaving him miserable.
But it was ex-wife Suzanne, who had lost weight herself, that vowed to help.
In her new role as a diet consultant, she has helped Neil shed a staggering 24st - in just over 18 months.
Now weighing just 16st Neil has got his life back, and even found love again thanks to Suzanne.
"I didn't want to live the life was I was living at the time," he said.
"I weighed so much I couldn't get an accurate reading on the scales.
"It effected every element of life, it more or less ended my marriage and I just didn't know how I would go on."
Neil and Suzanne's marriage ended before he reached 40st, but the pair stayed on good terms.
So when Neil's depression got worse and he ended up feeling suicidal it was Suzanne who stepped in.
"She was instrumental in my journey, I could call her when I felt like I was going to break," he said.
"She was always on the other end of the phone."
At his lowest point, Neil was scoffing more than 7,000 calories a day and his diet consisted of three meals of junk food, six bags of crisps, four litres of fizzy drink, a family size cake, three large muffins, sausage rolls and four chocolate bars a day.
But after just 18 months on the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan - and under the guidance of his wife - Neil has shed 24st.
"I think it's so important to talk about the mental challenges of food addiction and the way it effects every single element of your life," Neil said.
"Two years ago, I would eat huge meals full of pizza, chips, pies, sandwiches and crisps - as well as sweet treats like chocolate and cake."
After his marriage broke down, Neil moved back in with his parents.
His mum would make him healthy pack lunches but Neil, a dispatch scheduler, would ditch them in favour of more junk.
He would treat himself to sausage rolls and cakes or stop off at burger vans on his way home.
He snacked on crisps washed down with fizzy drinks and then go home and eat takeaways and snacks.
It was after losing weight herself, that Suzanne stepped in to help.
Neil had got so low he had confided in his ex-wife that he didn't want to live anymore, and had planned his suicide.
But in her new role as a diet consultant Suzanne convinced Neil to sign up and follow her lead.
She said: "We broke up about eight years before he reached 40st, but he had put on more than 10st in that time.
"We still got on so well so I wanted to help him get his life back."
After ditching the junk food, and with Suzanne's help, Neil started to notice the weight dropping off.
In just five months he said he felt "so much better".
And after shedding 24st to weigh in at a healthier 16st, Neil has been crowned Man of the Year by the diet group.
Neil said: “It’s one of the best feelings ever, I can’t really describe it but I feel like I can really have my own look and style now whereas before I just had to buy whatever fit me.
“I bought a suit for my friend’s wedding and it actually needed it taking in, I could not believe it.”
He added: “I can’t even explain how much I appreciate what the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan has done for me, my entire life has changed.
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“I’m an active guy now and I’m excited for the future, I have a great relationship with my new partner and look forward to what is to come.
“My ex-wife has been incredible, we’re sort of like brother and sister now, I love her to bits.
“My new partner is just as supportive, and together with my ex and diet I finally feel like I have a life worth sticking around for.”
Suzie added: “This diet works so well because its on a one-to-one basis, and a close working relationship.
“We already had a close relationship, so I knew together we could get the job done.”