by Jenni Horn

jhorn@thekmgroup.co.uk

Less than two years ago, policeman Simon Mather was dangerously
obese.

Now he has lost so much weight, his colleagues do not recognise
him.

The 42-year-old once tipped the scales at 36 stone, but he has
shed more than half his body weight after shunning a gastric band
and is training for the London Marathon.

DC Mather, from Gillingham, turned his life around after
suffering a blood clot in his leg in July 2009.

He had to take six weeks off work from Kent Police’s
intelligence department, but it was the kick-start he needed.

DC Mather said: “I decided I needed to change my ways. Before I
came back to work, I went to visit my GP and he asked if I had
considered gastric band surgery.

“For 24 hours after that I thought it was the answer to all my
problems. But then I considered the risks and decided to give it a
go on my own.

“I enrolled in a Weight Watchers group in October 2009. That was
the first time I had weighed myself in years.”

By following the diet plan and swimming every morning, Simon’s
weight began to drop off.

He had lost three stone by Christmas 2009 and upped his activity
levels, exercising at the gym every evening.

Sorry, this video asset has been removed.

Simon Mather talks about
his massive weight loss

DC Mather said: “By April 2010 I had lost nine stone. I was able
to start playing cricket again which was a real milestone for
me.

“I had always enjoyed sports, but as I put on more weight it
became more difficult. Just doing everyday things was difficult. I
couldn’t sleep and I suffered from a bad back.”

As he got fitter and slimmer he was asked by his Weight Watchers
leader Emma Brimsted to join her running the London Marathon in
April.

DC Mather, who is now a much trimmer and healthier 17 stone,
said: “I have changed my whole way of life. At work I have bumped
into people that haven’t seen me for months and they haven’t
recognised me.

“When I look back to when I was offered the gastric band, never
in my wildest dreams did I think that 18 months on I would be
running a marathon. It is an amazing experience for anyone, let
alone someone like me who used to weigh 36 stone.”

• Simon is raising money for the British Heart Foundation. To sponsor him, visit www.justgiving.com/Simon-Mather.