Lose 30 Stone or Die - Tuesday 18 December
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Lose 30 Stone or Die
Tuesday 18 December 2007 9:00pm - 10:00pm on ITV1.
Lose 30 Stone or Die is a unique film about a man who is so overweight that his own body is going to kill him within a year, and his painful struggle to reclaim his life. Thirty-six-year-old Colin weighs 48 stone and is a prisoner in his own home because his weight means he can’t even manage to walk more than a few steps.
He is in constant pain, has severe difficulty breathing during the night, needs someone to dress him each day and feels so low he has contemplated suicide.
Doctors have warned Colin that unless he loses weight, he will die. Lose 30 Stone or Die is a poignant and moving account of Colin’s battle to lose the pounds. In emotional scenes, Colin is seen as he prepares to undergo a series of major operations to reduce his stomach and drastically cut his weight.
Colin and his family talk candidly about the distress his weight problem has caused. His mum reveals how she has sold her house in a final effort to raise the money for Colin’s surgery.
The film also uncovers what lies behind Colin’s weight problem: a troubled family history. He says that he used to be very fit and healthy, but reveals how drug and alcohol problems in his early twenties sent his weight spiralling out of control.
He says: “People look at me and say, ‘he must be greedy and eat loads’, but I don’t. I am in constant pain with my back and my legs. I dream of coming through the operation. I want my life back.”
Hi Col,
Was so moved by watching you have saved the money and go for my op on monday 28th July. I hope I have as much success and you. Same consultant is doing my op.
24 Jul 08 at 10:41 pm
Well done Colin. I'm proud of your achievement. I dont know if you remember our family. I used to go to Millwood school in Speke with your Raymond. He was born the day before me in Sefton General. Your mum was in the next bed to my mum. Ray followed me to Runcorn and also was in the Army cadets with me. The documentary was a surprise to me and it brought back a lot of memories of Critchley Road and going round to your house with Ray. Please say hello to him for me.
Anyway good luck to you. I live in south Cheshire now having moved from Runcorn 5 5 years ago. Cheers mate. Ian
26 Jun 08 at 3:08 pm
Colin, I think you're fantastic! I was so moved by the documentary that I saw last night. You are an incredibly strong person and you have done so brilliantly. I was amazed that you got all the way down to 16 stone - you looked fantastic by the end! Very proud and happy for you xxx
15 May 08 at 3:58 pm
Colin, we just wanted to say WELL DONE and what an inspiration you are to anyone who wants to change themselves for the better, whether it be physically or otherwise. Jezza had lost 8 stone about 4 years ago after his Dad underwent triple bypass surgery, going from 19 stone to 11- Jezz used to get out of breath walking upstairs, we can only imagine how hard it was for you. Sadly, Jezz's Dad died back in 2005- Jezz decided to train for and enter the London Marathon, which he did last year and raised nearly £1,500 for the British Heart Foundation. How have you changed since the programme?
12 Apr 08 at 8:11 pm
Well done mate.Well done.I was very moved from the whole documentary.I started chanting when I saw the difference at the end.Well done mate.Your an inspiration to everyone.
Love Stathis Vasiliou
Nicosia,CYPRUS
14 Mar 08 at 10:10 pm
hi think you are amazin just wanted to tell you colin well done from donna westmidsxxx my msn is sweet-Donna@hotmail.co.uk if you ever want a chatxx
12 Mar 08 at 10:00 am
Dear Colin,
Just want to say like everyone before me that after watching your programme I was really amazed at how wonderful you fought your demons to get started on where you want to be. What a journey and well done. I myself have to lose about 9 stone and almost gave up hope of managing this untill i watched your your amazing achievment, I am most deffinatley not going to give up. You truelly are an inspiration to people like me and a guiding light that there is light at the end of a long dark tunnel. Thankyou for sharing your journey with us and good luck and all the best for the future my friend.
With respect to you,
Mary. xx
27 Feb 08 at 6:49 pm
WOW...Well done Colin, you have inspired me to restart my diet. I lost 5 stone last year, but due to my partner being unwell, amongst other things, I started comfort eating again, and I put most of the weight back on. Thanks for sharing your battle with us all... May all your dreams come true..Much respect and love xxx
26 Feb 08 at 10:27 pm
Hi Colin.
Just watched you on ITV2 and just want to say a big congratulations in achieving the weight loss. I was both moved and fascinated in what you have achieved. I myself am on a journey to lose 3 stone and know how difficult it is. I am interested to know if you have had the surgery to remove the excess skin. Anyway I just want to say you looked fantastic and a big well done and all the best in whatever you do..
Love Karan x x
26 Feb 08 at 10:10 pm
Hi katy
I would just like to say thanks for your moving comment. It blows me away to read such comments like yours , i did the documentary to show that fat people wernt just greedy and lazy, i have worked all of my life and battled with many demons that werent in the documentary and i used drink,drugs and alcohol to keep me going.I am so happy at the moment but still have a bit of a jorney to go but reading comments like yours makes it easyer.
lots of love
little col
x
22 Jan 08 at 9:14 pm
Hi Colin, Have just today seen you on Richard&Judy - WELL DONE, WELL DONE AND WELL DONE¬!!!!!! You are fantastic!!!! Keep on truckin!!
21 Jan 08 at 8:35 pm
Hi Colin,
Made up you got what you needed, must have given lots of hope to many in your position, you and your family came across as lovely people so how well you've all done despite everything!
Can you tell us if you've any plans to have your excess skin removed?
Good luck for the future to you all,
Clare from Liverpool
13 Jan 08 at 5:40 pm
I saw Colin's story on ITV2 last night, and I have to say it was amazing - what an inspiration to anyone who struggles with their weight or is unhappy about something about themselves. When the programme started I was shocked to see how big Colin was, and I did think 'how does a person get to that size?', but as the story unfolded I understood how Colin's early life had affected him into adulthood, and I was with Colin every step of the way on his battle to secure his operation and regain his life. It was wonderful to see the handsome man he is emerge, and I was so pleased for Colin and his family, who were all a great support to him.
So well done Colin, you're an amazing person to have come through so much and to have acheived what you set out to do, and you are a testament to the value of willpower and family support. (The lady at Slimming World was great too!)
Well done also to the programme-makers who succeeded in making a really moving and intelligent programme that sensitively explored Colin's life story to help show why he was so big. It wasn't at all sensational and it really showed the person behind the problem - I hope more of us will be more understanding and sympathetic about issues like this following this programme.
Colin, I'm sure you will have inspired lots of people to make the changes they want to make so they can be happier and healthier. Keep up with the swimming and best of luck with life and love - you truly deserve to be happy! xxx
10 Jan 08 at 12:55 pm
Colin, you have opened my eyes. I used to think over weight people where lazy and disgusting; I watched with interest and during the show I even had a lump in my throat.
I have now decided to invest my money (had a large lotto win) and help a local group that deals with weight problems locally.
If it wasn't for you my views wouldn't have changed. May your God help you on your pathway and give you what you've asked for (wife and children).
Good luck in what ever you due and thank you for changing my life.
Simon.
10 Jan 08 at 12:31 pm
What a fantastic programme! Colin your such a lovely man - I wish you all the best for the future. Infact your whole family are tremendous. I love the way they all rallied around to look after you. Your father has a lot to answer for - but together you are obviously working your way through it. Who'd have thought at the beginning of the programme that you would have turned into such a handsome looking chap. Well done you. Sharon x
10 Jan 08 at 9:24 am
Truly inspirational story....and mmmwwwaaahhh as sexy as! Keep up the good work, you look stunning, im trying to loose weight with no success, im 6 stone overweight!
I wish i had your willpower....pass some over to me please.....hehe
Good luck for your future and i hope you get what you want out of life!
Luv
Kari
x
9 Jan 08 at 10:02 pm
well done col like yourself I support E,F,C gotta shaved head over 30 stone and now after your program i am looking to get gastric bypass in 2008,where do i start?
9 Jan 08 at 8:18 pm
I JUST WONT TO SAY A BIG BIG THANX FOR ALL THE KIND WORDS THAT YOU HAVE ALL PUT IT MEANS ALOT ,AND IF I DIDN`T HAVE THE OPS I WOULDN`T BE HERE TODAY . I`M SO SO HAPPY NOW AND I CAN GET ON WITH LIFE .
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST FOR 2008
little col
4 Jan 08 at 5:22 pm
Fantastic viewing. Just watched this program and had to say what great guy Colin is and how much he endured and overcame to acheive his dream.
Colin you have more guts than I can ever dream of having. Having been turned down for the operation you so desperately wanted so many times, all the while losing ten stone just so you could get the op is beyond commendable. On top of that having your journey filmed and overcoming all the set-backs was amazing viewing. You are truly inspirational and a lovely nice guy to boot.
I was so pleased at the end when it showed you healthy and happy having lost a whopping 32 stone. Well done to you and well done to your family for offering such amazing support while you were all dealing with demons of the past.
One again congratulations Colin, I hope you fullfill your dreams and live the life you so rightly deserve and have fought so hard for.
Merry Christmas!
And to ITV, well done for showing a thought provoking and heart warming program as this. There is so little on television nowadays that leave you feeling in awe and inspired but Colin's story did just that for me and my family. May there be more programs like this int he future broadcasting brave and teriffic people like Colin.
22 Dec 07 at 3:11 pm
Typical comments of the blind hypocrasy expected from a uk citizen. Yes your father was refused a pace maker, it surely is the fault of fat people. What a load of nonsense, the funding of the NHS is a lot darker than just fat people using it all up. What about the billions spent by the NHS on smokers, the billions spent by the NHS on Road accident victims and more importantly the billions spent by the NHS on treating immigrants who use this countrys services without paying.
Blaming fat people is a lot lower down on the list of scapegoats.
19 Dec 07 at 3:08 pm
WOW,
As much as this could be labelled "Freak TV" and people just watch to gaup at how much a fatty eats etc, this program ended up being much more than the normal tosh we see, What an amazing man he was, and his will power is and should be an inspiration to all those out there who are looking for quick fixes. We spend a lot of money in this country on rehabilitating Drug users and other addicts, yet people still treat Obese people as just lazy and do not understand that some are as much addicts as smack heads. That is money well spent on allowing him to do the surgery on the NHS and considering he was prepared to fund himself originally and made the commitment of losing 10 stone before the NHS helped, is more than enough reason to help him. A genuinely good program for once, and bravo again to that man, who was a thoroughly nice guy.
19 Dec 07 at 3:01 pm
what happened at the end, did colin get the surgery for the excess fat removal.
well done colin, you proved what a decent guy you are, and i agree the nhs should have helped and they were only right to review thier policies on this matter. The government and the nhs spend millions on imigrants who have never paid a penny into the system, so £10,000 is small potatoes to save a young mans life.
19 Dec 07 at 1:04 pm
Colin................Emotionally charged my wife & I was with you all the way, we laughed when you laughed and wept when you wept. You are an inspiration to anybody with a problem whether it be weight, smoking, or any habit that you cannot break. I am 5 stone overweight, and get Christmas out of the way, and I'm going for it. I will be 60 next year, and I've been overweight for the last 10 years and I'm getting more & more depressed, but after last nights programme............you will be my guiding light.
19 Dec 07 at 12:56 pm
What a fantastic achievement I was so happy at the end it was a great programme and what a truly great guy Colin is I was just so pleased for him his mother sister brother and friends,,TRULY INSPIRATIONAL
19 Dec 07 at 10:53 am
I watched the programme last night and wated to say a huge well done to Colin. I lost 2 stone this year and know the ups and downs of trying to loss weight.
What a fanstic guy and I wish him all the best.
19 Dec 07 at 9:56 am
A massive well done Colin! I watched the documentry with a mixture of sadness, frustration and total admiration. Colin you have an inner strength and determination that you should be very proud of, I wish I was as driven as you haven been to reach your personal goals. Good luck for the future and I hope with all my heart that you truly find inner peace and the happiness you deserve. Congratulations once again.
Tina xx
19 Dec 07 at 1:32 am
colin you truly are an inspiration to everyone. all i can say is a huge WELL DONE. I know what its like to try to lose weight (ok not near as much as you) every pound is a struggle and to have to lose stones rather than pounds must be unthinkable. i would have loved you to say "two fingers" to the NHS and do it all by yourself but it really is easier said than done. I hope you are reading this so i can once again say congratulations on your weight loss, you really do look FANTASTIC, you appear to be a "top bloke" and its only a matter of time before you find your ideal woman and heres to many Junior Colins!!
19 Dec 07 at 12:57 am
well said
18 Dec 07 at 11:45 pm
Well done Colin! You deserved the treatment that you got on the NHS - don't let bitter people of this world tell you otherwise!!! I live in Runcorn and if I ever bump into you I will give you a big hug to say well done!!! I will even buy you a pint - of orange that is!!
18 Dec 07 at 11:29 pm
im here again all i can say im a size 12 and have never realy suffered with being over weight but i can honestly say if someone said to me i had got to lose a stone in a month i would get up every morning feeling depressed, so what im saying is i admire all of you who are over weight. and are trying to lose the weight
18 Dec 07 at 11:28 pm
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