A man with two children, known as ‘Big Dan,’ has undergone a significant transformation, losing over 10 stone and becoming almost unrecognizable. This change was spurred by the impact of antidepressants motivating him to make positive changes in his life.
Dan Shilling, 39, weighed 26 stone in late 2022, when he was at his lowest ebb.
The electricial technician, who works offshore, was struggling with being away from his family and often encountered workplace bullying.
As a result, he’d often turn to food for comfort.
‘Being a typical man, instead of talking about my issues I spiralled and tried to find comfort in food,’ said Mr Shilling, who lives in Norfolk.
‘It led me to piling on the weight and becoming an unpleasant person.’
Working in an environment where high-calorie food was readily available only contributed to the challenge. His workplace provided meals like a full English breakfast, bacon rolls, lasagne for lunch, and indulgent snacks such as biscuits and cake in the afternoons, along with hearty dinners like shepherd’s pie or steak.
He said his exercise was ‘non-existent’.
The 39 year-old dad realised he needed to make a change when he struggled with his mobility at work.
Today, he is almost half the size he used to be and enjoys regular football games and running.
At this point, Mr Shilling was also putting away a 1,200-calorie Marabou chocolate bar every night, resulting in his heaviest weight of 26st 1lbs.
‘Everything that could go wrong was going wrong,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t really there, I was just existing.’
After an open and honest conversation with his partner Emma, Mr Shilling decided to visit his GP for a consultation about his mood.
The doctor diagnosed him with depression and prescribed antidepressants.
Mr. Shilling started to see improvements in his life after a few months, facilitated by a job transition to working on a gas platform in the East Irish Sea, with departures from Blackpool.
His weight was the final challenge.
One day in December 2023, he began ‘pouring with sweat and out of breath’ while at work and walking just 50 metres from the terminal building to a helicopter.
He said he found it difficult to fasten his seat belt in the helicopter and, at this point, he thought: ‘This is enough.’
He then signed up to the popular football weight loss scheme, Man v Fat Football, along with the Couch to 5K programme, and made a commitment to change his life from January 2024.
The electrical technician was diagnosed with depression and prescribed medicine which helped to lift his mood.
Now he is no longer taking the drugs, and feels he is a better father to his two young children.
About 8,500 men currently take part at more than 150 Man v Fat Football clubs across the UK.
‘I made a promise to myself that I would no longer be the heaviest person on the team,’ he said.
He started counting his calories and monitoring his portions at work, and he focused on increasing his daily step count.
Within the first three months, he said he lost 3st 4lbs and, to date, he has lost nearly 11 stone.
Mr Shilling now weighs about 15st 6lbs and is able to wear clothes from when he was 20 years old again.
‘I haven’t had to buy a new wardrobe because I’ve still got my old one,’ he said.
He added that he feels ‘loads better’ and can now be a better partner to his girlfriend and father to his two children – Betsy, five, and Elsie, four months.
Mr Shilling said exercise was ‘non existent’ when he was at his heaviest.
Mr Shilling has not cut any foods out of his diet. He simply ensures he does sufficient exercise to ensure he has not eaten too many calories for his energy output.
He has also taken up running and he plans to take part in the Rome Marathon 2026 to celebrate turning 40.
While he still enjoys sweet treats and fast-food on occasion, he now has a healthier lifestyle and is no longer taking antidepressants.
Asked for his advice to others, he said: ‘Just stick to the basics – calories in versus calories out. That’s all I’ve done.
‘I’d be happy eating a KFC as long as I go for a run to cancel it out and I’ve got the calories spare.
‘I’ve actually got a folder on my phone, I’ve got an album called Fat Me.
‘Looking back at everything from then to now, you realise how far you’ve come.
‘It’s unbelievable. I still can’t believe it myself.’
