A MAN has lost more than four stone after having a heart attack aged just 27.
Ross McAllister, from Maryhill, had a heart attack in March last year which caused him to spend five days in hospital.
He says the heart attack was caused by his "poor diet".
Ross, who recently married his wife Lauren, said: "I'd just woken up and within 15 minutes I felt severe chest pain and next thing I know I passed out.
"As I woke up I had to shout my wife in to phone the ambulance and try to keep an eye on me.
"It happened really quickly.
"I had no issues before and I was the first one in the family I believe because there’s no heart issues or anything in the family.
"So it wasn’t anything else, it was the poor diet and poor life choices."
Ross, now 28, joined Slimming World just a couple of weeks later after it made him realise he had to do something about his weight.
He said: "I was scared, I didn’t want it to happen again, I got very lucky this time.
"They reckon there was about a 90% survival rate so it gave me a kick up the backside to ensure it doesn’t happen again."
Prior to joining the weight loss group at Windsor Community Hall, Ross had tried to lose weight using apps and calorie counting but found he would give up "at the first bump in the road".
However, he's found the support offered by group leader Donna McKellar and other members has been a "great" help while losing weight.
He said: "I was apprehensive to begin with but once I got there I found it was really supportive and everybody’s really nice and helpful.
"Even if you have bad weeks, there are people there to really help you, we’re all there for the same reason."
He added: "If you just go along, even if you’re unsure the people there are there to help, there’s no ulterior motive for it and they don’t judge you."
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Since losing weight, Ross has had no more health issues and says he is not as breathless when he walks and no longer suffers from "aches and pains".
He said: "I used to have bad aches in my knees but since I lost weight and exercising that’s really non-existent now.
"I just generally feel better and have a lot more energy, I feel ten times better for it."
Cardiovascular disease is both the UK's and the world's number one killer.
Around 1.4million people in the UK have survived a heart attack, while heart and circulatory diseases cause a quarter of all deaths in the UK.
Slimming World's nutritionist Alexandra Clark said: "Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight can significantly reduce the risk of developing heart disease and can also help reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are both associated with increased risk.
"Eating more healthily and getting more active are known to improve heart health yet we know changing habits that have formed over years - sometimes decades - takes time.
"The in-depth support and encouragement shared at our weekly Slimming World groups is what helps our members to make long term behaviour changes."
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