A Santa Claus was sacked because he lost 11 stone and was no longer fat enough to fit into his XXXXXL costume.
Ian was the perfect Father Christmas when he weighed 27 stone but his employers were no longer interested in his services when he dropped some weight.
The 64-year-old, who described himself as ‘Bad Santa’, was so obese he had to book two seats on a plane when he visited his brother.
He also suffered from from sleep apnea that caused him to stop breathing up to 30 times a night.
MORE : Mother hands son in after he admits molesting 50 children including four-year-old boy
‘I didn’t mind playing Santa for the kids, but under the suit I felt more like Bad Santa. I was eating too much and drinking too much and it was putting my life at risk,’ he said.
‘I was jolly for the kids, but under my fake beard and red coat I was feeling rotten and knew I had to change.’
Eventually doctors warned Ian he could die if he didn’t change his diet that consisted of eating takeaway and drinking whisky every night.
He had a BMI of 50.
‘Even my huge Santa suit was struggling to do up. I knew I had to change,’ he said.
MORE : Fitness fanatic dad died in Premier Inn after taking deadly internet diet pills
In 2015, with the support of wife Mary-Jane, he started a diet from the Cambridge Weight Plan, which led to him losing 11 stone.
He now weighs 16 stone and is unable to fit into his Santa costume.
He added: ‘ I’m a new man and it feels amazing. I might not be Santa anymore but I feel lot happier and healthier now that giant tummy has gone.
‘It’s the best present I could ever wish for.’
Ian had started his bad eating habits as a way to cope with the death of his first wife in 2002.
MORE : Campaigners want leaseholds abolished because ‘they’re abused by unscrupulous landlords’
MORE : Unmarried teacher sacked because she was ‘living in sin’ with her boyfriend
Share this with