'I used to weigh 24st - now I'm training for the Marathon des Sables'

'I used to weigh 24st - now I'm training for the Marathon des Sables' Geoff Stockley used to munch on pastries, baguettes, fish and chips, foot-long Subways and KFC during lunch breaks, until a sobering visit to his GP A bus driver whose weight ballooned to 24st thanks to daily bacon rolls and pasties on his lunch breaks shed 9st after a blood pressure scare. Geoff Stockley, 39, was always larger than friends growing up - and gained more weight when he became a bus driver due to long, tiring days where he was mostly sat down. The dad-of-two munched on pastries, baguettes, fish and chips, foot-long Subways and KFC when on his lunch breaks at work, as they were conveniently located within the bus station. But this led to Geoff ballooning further to 24st and having to order XXXL shirts online because such large sizes were rarely available in-store. Geoff, from Poole, Dorset, never stuck to any diets when he tried to lose weight - thinking he would be okay because he was young. But after a doctor's appointment for a different issue flagged he had a very high blood pressure, he realised how serious a problem his weight was. Geoff started a Couch to 5k plan and started learning more about healthy nutrition so he could eat healthier foods that would still keep him full on his long shifts instead of eating convenience foods. Not only did he start to see the weight coming off but found he had more energy, could walk longer distances and be more active with children Elliot, 10, and Georgia, 16. After around two years Geoff had shed a third of his body weight - slimming down to 15st 10lbs from over 24st - and swapping his XXXL shirts for a large. Alongside improving his blood pressure, he has started strength training and has signed up to run Marathon des Sables 2027. Geoff said: "I never prioritised being active and I was always overweight. I've been a bus driver 18 years - there's easy access to bad food at the station, and the weight kept coming on without me realising. "I kept thinking to myself I'd do better but by my lunch break I'd have bought a bacon baguette, something from the bakery, chip shop chips or a KFC. "So when the doctor flagged high blood pressure at a younger age than I expected, it was a bit of an eye opener. I think I'd been aware I should live a healthier life, but I didn't realise how significant that was until then. "Now I'm here, I have no intention of going back to that weight. I can show other people who do shift work that it is possible to do these things, even if it's not easy. "Some people have to do a double take because they don't recognise me now. And my very supportive wife, Sian Stockley, 40, says I can't go back to that size again." Geoff had gained weight after 15 years working as a bus driver prior to his GP's warning about his elevated blood pressure in 2023. He said: "There were bakeries around the station. Alongside the takeaways, I loved all things savoury, like sausage rolls, bacon and cheese turnovers and pasties." His weight had increased over the years but he always made excuses to do something about it - until his blood pressure forced him to confront it head-on. He started running and began educating himself on healthier food options, meaning he could still feel full on his long shifts. He said: "I started to lose weight when I combined the running with the nutrition - leaning how to eat better, cooking food to keep me full that wasn't so calorie-dense. "Simple things like just putting your trainers on and going out walking for 10 minutes. Instead of going to the bakery, I'd walk round the corner to Aldi and pick up some sliced chicken and fruit. "People noticed relatively quickly that I was more active - my children noticed I could keep up with them more when they were running around." He completed his weight loss in early 2025 and has since maintained the weight loss after joining a strength training gym, and continuing his running. Geoff said: "It has led to me feeling a lot more confident in myself and a lot more aware of the choices I make." In order to challenge himself, Geoff is looking to take on the Marathon des Sables 2027. The iconic six-day ultramarathon through the Sahara Desert in Morocco sees runners battle temperatures regularly above 40°C. in what is one of the toughest races in the world. Geoff is now raising money to fund the challenge, which will likely cost around £5,000 in total, including his travel and supplies. He said: "I want to show my family that something which doesn't feel possible, is possible if you work at it. "It feels enlightening now to be able to go into a shop and buy a t-shirt or pair of shorts, now I'm a size large. Being where I am now would have seemed impossible 10 years ago. I've set myself a big challenge and it does feel overwhelming but I'm excited to get out there." DIET BEFORE WEIGHT LOSS BREAKFAST: bacon baguette SNACKS: chocolate bar LUNCH: foot long Subway SNACKS: crisps DINNER: large Dominos SNACKS: ice cream DRINKS: full sugar Monster DIET AFTER WEIGHT LOSS BREAKFAST: scrambled eggs LUNCH: cooked chicken and lots of fruit DINNER: chicken fajitas with lots of veg SNACKS: fruit, Greek yogurt, protein powder and chia seeds DRINKS: water, black coffee, sugar-free Monster