The pair have lost 22 stone between them
In an inspiring tale of transformation, a hairdresser and his former teacher have collectively dropped a jaw-dropping 22 stone, the equivalent of an adult lion’s weight. Joshua Hilton along with Sarah Jane Clark, who has since become a wellbeing and eating disorder coach, achieved this feat while still indulging in their favourite treats like takeaways, chocolate, and crisps, boldly claiming that dieting is “pointless”.
Joshua, 30, shed nine stone within a year, while Sarah, 53, trimmed down by 12-and-a-half stone. Their journey from a teacher-student relationship to a supportive friendship has not only changed their lives but also stands as a testament against the “toxic diet culture”.
For Joshua, a resident of Chippenham, Wiltshire, the turning point came with a New Year’s resolution on January 1, 2024. Weighing in at 20 stone, he was dodging social interactions, had trouble tying his shoelaces, and was grappling with severe mental health issues.
The duo embarked on their weight loss paths individually but soon joined forces to maximise their results without resorting to extreme dieting measures. Joshua recounted his past struggles, saying: “I wasn’t living – I was just existing.”
He added, “I’ve tried every single diet – slimming groups, keto, even diet pills. It’s not the right way to do it.”
His battle with mental health was intense. He avoided people in supermarkets and sweated over simple tasks like tying shoelaces.
Rejecting the notion of quick fixes, Joshua embraced a calorie deficit strategy, consuming fewer calories than his body burned, and focused on steady, maintainable weight reduction. Sarah has undergone a remarkable transformation herself.
Once a hairdresser, she’s now a wellbeing coach, drawing on her personal battles to support others dealing with food addiction and weight issues. Both Joshua and Sarah are clear that there’s no magic trick to shedding pounds. Joshua’s approach is simple: maintain a calorie deficit without completely banning any foods.
He explained: “I still eat cake, chocolate, and takeaways. 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.”
Previously, Joshua’s diet was heavy on sugar and fast food, guzzling three to four litres of full-fat Coke every day, indulging in multiple takeaways per night, and barely drinking water. These days, he enjoys well-rounded meals like granola with fruit for breakfast, gammon and chips for lunch, and even a takeaway or restaurant meal for dinner, not forgetting the occasional evening treats like cake and chocolate bars.
Importantly, he hasn’t eliminated ‘bad foods’ from his diet; he still enjoys them occasionally as long as he sticks to his calorie deficit. Now tipping the scales at just over 11 stone, Joshua is dedicated to busting myths about weight loss and challenging the harmful narratives of diet culture.
He stated: “We’re fighting against toxic fad diets and the stigma around food addiction. Food addiction isn’t treated like other substance abuses, but it’s just as real.”
Joshua’s TikTok page and Sarah’s Facebook group, ‘step by step with Sarah Jane’, have become a beacon of hope for many. The dynamic duo dishes out advice and encouragement to their followers.
Joshua is training to be a weight management coach while Sarah promotes positive, lasting changes to diet and lifestyle. Speaking on the impact of New Year’s resolutions, Joshua shared: “People always say New Year’s resolutions won’t last, but sometimes they do,” and “You can enjoy food and still lose weight.”
Joshua’s diet before: Breakfast: either nothing or chocolate cake Lunch: nothing Dinner:
- takeaway x2 e.g. a KFC
- McDonald’s Snacks
- chocolate cake
- crisps
- chocolate bar
Joshua’s diet now:
- Breakfast: Mixed granola, fruit, Nutella
- Lunch: Gammon, egg and chips or jacket potato with beans
- Dinner: Smaller portion takeaway or dinner out
- Snacks: cake and chocolate bars.
