Neil's incredible 7stone weight loss after breaking femur

A Chapel Hill super slimmer has been named the Greatest Loser, and is celebrating being able to buy jeans from high-street clothes stores for the first time after losing nearly 12stone.

Consultant Jo West with Neil Brailsford and his old 5XL trousers.

Neil Brailsford, 65, of Chapel Hill near Coningsby, has been named Tattershall Slimming World’s Greatest Loser 2023 after losing 7stone 11lbs, dropping from 25st 12 – a clothing size 5XL – to 18st 3 in just two years.

His weight loss journey began after a fairly ordinary fall in his garden in April 2019 saw him fracture his femur in two places, and he recalled the moment he fell and heard a loud crack:

"I told my wife Karen to call an ambulance because I thought I’d broken my leg, and the surgeon said he couldn’t believe I’d done it just by falling over – he said the injuries were like those he’d seen in a car crash.”

Neil Brailsford before his 7stone weight loss.

Neil’s leg was pinned from his hip down to his knee and it took nearly a year for his mobility to improve due to his weight.

When he went to the doctors, the nurse asked if he’d thought about going on a diet, and that he could be given a free 12 week referral for Slimming World through his GP.

Neil said he was initially unsure as he had tried many diets over the years, but after a glowing recommendation from his daughter, he decided to give it a try and joined Tattershall’s Slimming World group in September 2020 – a decision, he said, was the best he’d ever made:

"It’s unbelievable how much you can eat and not feel hungry, it’s been brilliant for me. I was having to buy 5XL jogging bottoms online and the other day I walked into George at Asda and just bought a pair of jeans off the shelves, it’s brilliant.

Neil Brailsford has been named Tattershall Slimming World’s Greatest Loser 2023 after losing 7stone 11lbs.

"We’ve got such a wonderful, friendly group here and that really makes you want to go to group,” he said, “We all support each other and have a big laugh, I’d recommend it to anyone.”

Jo West, Coningsby and Tattershall Slimming World consultant, said: “Neil is the life and soul of the group.

"He looks forward to group every week and loves to share the fact that he has his pizza and beer on a Wednesday night! “Congratulations Neil, you really are our champion.”

To find out about joining Coningsby or Tattershall Slimming World, call Consultant Jo on 07825 728195.