Rotherham man drops 10 stone in a year after quitting booze

Paul Nunns has lost almost a third of his bodyweight after nearly dying from alcohol addiction

A Rotherham man whose struggle with alcohol saw his body weight double to 30 stone (190.5kg) described the lightbulb moment that saved his life.

Paul Nunns, 46, was hospitalised last November with liver failure, cirrhosis and pneumonia and was told he could die.

Since then he has "not touched a drop" and lost nearly 10 stone (63.5kg) by changing his diet and exercise.

Mr Nunns told the BBC: "Giving up alcohol has 100% saved me."

The former pylon painter also said his drinking cost him his career and almost his relationship.

Mr Nunns, from Maltby, said: "My girlfriend would have left me, she had had enough of my drinking."

He weighed about 15 stone (95kg) in 2019 but by November 2022 his weight had doubled due to drinking and he could barely walk.

Mr Nunns pictured in November 2022 and in 2015 at his goal weight of around 17 stone

Mr Nunns said he was considered malnourished as his excess weight was from built-up fluid and alcohol.

His heart was under strain and Mr Nunns said he "could see no way out" and believed he would "drink himself to death".

Mr Nunns said: "I've always liked a drink at weekends but I've been dependent on alcohol since around 2014.

"On and off I've had numerous hospital detoxes, but nothing stuck."

But after the last hospital visit "something clicked" and Nr Nunns gave up alcohol there and then.

He said certain events in the last 13 months had been a struggle such as Christmas, funerals and birthdays, but he had remained sober.

Mr Nunns' girlfriend Debbie has also been a huge inspiration and his two children, aged 24 and 22, are also "very proud" of him.

He said: "I sleep better, my relationships are better and I eat healthily now. Previously I didn't eat very much but what I did eat was no good."

Mr Nunns had also joined a local gym. It was something he was always too self-conscious to do but after dropping five stone (31.75kg), he said he felt brave enough.

He has visited almost every day since joining in May and said: "I've never felt as good in years, getting compliments off people everyday helps me as well."

Mr Nunns said he is "living proof" that with determination and support, people with addiction issues can turn their lives around.

He added: "I'm so proud of myself. Anything is possible. My goal is 17 stone (108kg) - and I'm nearly there!"