My weight loss buddy and I lost 22 stone together

Hairdresser Joshua Hilton, 30, from Wiltshire, weighed 20 stone (127kg) and felt so unhealthy, he began avoiding his friends and struggling with mental health problems. Barely able to tie his shoelaces, on New Year’s Day 2024, Joshua made a New Year’s resolution to change his life and lose weight.

“I wasn’t living, I was just existing,” admits Joshua. “I’d tried every single diet – slimming groups, Keto, even diet pills – which wasn’t the right way to do it.”

“My mental health was on the brink,” he adds. “I would avoid people in the supermarket and I struggled to even tie my shoelaces up without going into a sweat.”

Luckily for him, his former hairdressing teacher Sarah Jane Clark, 53, was also on a weight loss journey. Weighing 21st 10lbs (139kg), Sarah Jane was determined to transform her body, so the pair of them made a pact to lose weight together.

Spurring each other on, they both steadily lost weight, avoiding crash diets completely. Joshua used a ‘calorie deficit’ approach – eating fewer calories than he used each day – and focussed on gradual and sustainable weight loss. He still enjoyed takeaways, chocolate and crisps, but over the course of a year, he managed to lose nine stone (57kg).

His weight loss buddy Sarah lost a staggering 12.5 stone (76kg), going from 21st 10lbs (139kg) down to 9st 10lbs (57kg). Their combined weight loss total was 22 stone (139kg), the equivalent of an adult lion.

Previously a hairdresser herself, Sarah has now had a career change and works as a wellbeing coach, using her own experiences to help others struggling with food addiction and weight issues.

Both Sarah and Joshua emphasise there is no secret formula for weight loss. Rather than banning certain foods, Joshua says, “It’s all about portion control and prioritising protein, vegetables and fibre.

“You don’t have to give up carbs or live on salmon and rice – it’s just about being aware of calories.”

Joshua’s previous diet consisted largely of sugar and fast food, including three to four litres of full-fat Coke daily, as well as at least two takeaways every night, often a KFC, followed by a McDonald’s. Sometimes he’d even eat chocolate cake for breakfast.

Now, he enjoys balanced meals like granola with fruit for breakfast, jacket potato with beans for lunch, and a smaller takeaway or meal out for dinner. He hasn’t cut out ‘bad food’ and still eats cake and chocolate when he wants, providing he maintains a calorie deficit.

He now weighs just over 11 stone (70kg) and has become passionate about challenging the myths surrounding weight loss and diet culture.

“We’re fighting against toxic fad diets and the stigma around food addiction,” he says. “Food addiction isn’t treated like other substance abuses, but it’s just as real.”

“Teaming up with Sarah has helped my journey massively, as Sarah deals with the triggers and downfalls of food addiction, which I also suffer with,” explains Joshua. “It was lovely to have someone of a different gender and age too to confide in and get support from because it shows we all suffer our own food and diet battles.

“Our mutual love of hairdressing helped us connect further with our health journeys.”

Sarah also felt inspired by the comradeship between them.

“I loved watching a like-minded person like Josh transforming his weight and health, and found it really motivational,” she says.

“It was nice to share ideas, recipes and be a positive energy for each other.”

Through Joshua’s TikTok page and Sarah’s Facebook group called Step by Step with Sarah Jane which has 1.8k followers, the friends share their insights and support others.

Joshua is also training to become a weight management coach, while Sarah continues to promote positive, sustainable approaches to health and nutrition.

“People always say New Year’s resolutions won’t last, but sometimes they do,” smiles Josh. “You can enjoy food and still lose weight.”

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