Judge Rinder guest’s 25st weight loss after downing 3 litres of fizzy drink a day
A JUDGE Rinder guest who was disgusted after seeing himself on TV has dropped a whopping 25 stone.
Mitchell Yafai, 26, admits he would down three litres of fizzy drinks a day and gorge on crisps and sweets.
But he hadn't realised how much weight he had piled on until he appeared on the ITV reality show to settle an alleged £3k debt with his mum in 2016.
Mitchell, from Halesowen, Dudley, now credits the show's host Robert Rinder with "saving my life" after going from 40 stone to 15 stone.
He said: “I hated everything about how I looked.
"No matter what angle they filmed me from, I was disgusting.”
Weight loss incentive
It prompted the 6ft 3in children's home manager to quit the junk food and stop taking the bus to work.
Instead he started walking 14 miles a day every day.
Initially, he lost 17 stone - but was told he wasn't eligible for gastric bypass surgery on the NHS.
The setback meant he ended up putting on six stone in four months.
But Mitchell was undeterred to lose the weight and managed to save up £4,500 to have the operation done privately in the Czech Republic.
Mitchell's diet before and after
BEFORE
Breakfast - McDonald's breakfast
Lunch - Fish and chips
Dinner - Indian, Chinese, or pizza takeaway
Snacks - Crisps, cake, chocolate, fizz
AFTER
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Salads
Dinner - Chicken, meat, fish, vegetables
Snacks - No fizz, crisps, or cake, but the occasional chocolate
The top part of his stomach was joined to the small intestine to help him feel full as soon as he's eaten.
In less than six months, he had managed to shed 14 stone.
He said: "Before I went on the show, I was super self-conscious about my image.
"The show had offered to pay off my debts if they ruled in my mum's favour - or nullify them if they ruled in my favour. It was a win-win.
"But the whole time, I was worried about how I would appear.
"I had to watch the show on my own 12 weeks later, because I couldn't bear the thought of watching it with any friends or family."
Mocked by motorists
Mitchell says he cut out all carbs and started eating mostly protein-based meals, including chicken salads and lots of veggies.
He also took up walking and sold his car, but says: "I still had the typical van drivers mocking me and shouting at me from the windows.
Mitchell added: "Because I was so big, though, people couldn't see I'd lost weight for six months."
He went under the knife in September 2018 but became extremely unwell when the returned to the UK.
Bleeding internally, he collapsed while trying to walk off what he thought was indigestion, and had to go to A&E, two days after the op.
UK medics concluded he was suffering with stomach ulcers, either caused or ignored by the weight loss surgeons.
But within six months, Mitchell lost another 14st - and he said that "my life has never been better" as his confidence has skyrocketed.
Turning heads
He said: "Now heads don't turn if I enter a room - and if they do, it's only because I'm making a scene.
"None of this would have been possible without Judge Rinder - being on that show, watching myself back, and thinking enough's enough.
"Truth is, Judge Rinder saved my life."
He added: "Having the bypass was so important to me losing that next nearly 14 stone, but I paid a big cost in having that done in terms of money and my health.
"I want to inspire people to take their lives into their own hands.
"It doesn't matter about your background, or how much money you have.
"If you have the will, you have the means to turn everything around.
"I was told I wouldn't live past 30. Now my life expectancy's normal, and that's great."
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