Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock continues to show off his incredible transformation following weight loss surgery after revealing he felt pressured to drink from the age of 16 to avoid being an ‘outcast’ amongst fellow footballers
Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock, after undergoing weight loss surgery, is still impressing with his remarkable change, choosing sobriety for Dry January.
Previously renowned soccer player, now aged 56, shed close to 100 pounds due to a lifesaving gastric sleeve operation conducted in 2021. This intervention became necessary as doctors warned him that he had only three months left to live after decades of excessive alcohol consumption.
Neil displayed his toned figure in a black sweater as part of the Alcohol Change UK campaign, joined by former Wimbledon Football Club player Fraser Franks and football commentator Jay Motty.
Regarding his experiences with alcohol during his football career, Neil mentioned: “I found the greatest challenge was the strong influence of the drinking culture among my peers. For instance, the seniors would often invite us, saying something like ‘Tuesday, it’s a must that you join us for drinks.’
At sixteen or seventeen, I yearned for acceptance and camaraderie. As a young apprentice among the seasoned professionals, I longed to belong. That’s when my journey with alcohol began.
He added: ‘If you had claimed not to drink in the past, you might have been shunned. The locker room holds significant power, and it can become quite hostile with teasing, so I doubt anyone would turn down such an invitation.’
Neil admitted that whether he was feeling angry, wicked, sorrowful, or joyful, each emotion served as a justification for him to consume alcohol.
In all instances where I’ve had disagreements, strained relationships, or found myself in trouble, alcohol has always been part of the equation. It seems like when you go out with good intentions, but after a few drinks, you don’t care about consequences, and as a result, you end up causing problems the following day, even if you have significant plans or tasks to attend to.
Neil, a former player for Millwall, Liverpool, and West Ham, shared that he significantly reduced his alcohol consumption only when he became fearful he might be developing dementia due to it.
After receiving some grim news from medical experts – they warned me that my continued drinking would only give me two more months to live – it was a wake-up call like no other. This revelation sparked a complete reevaluation of my lifestyle. I underwent procedures such as having a pacemaker installed and opting for a gastric sleeve surgery, which has been life-saving. As a result, I’ve successfully shed an impressive 9+ stone, transforming not just my physical appearance but also saving my life in the process.
That health incident served as a powerful wake-up call for me. Although I continue to drink occasionally, I no longer engage in heavy drinking. I refrain from excessive consumption of alcohol since it came close to taking my life. There’s nothing more valuable to me than this lesson learned.
Approximately 15.5 million people in the United Kingdom are planning to abstain from alcohol this month. Coincidentally, the football transfer window is open from January 1st to January 31st during this same period. The Premier League matches will commence in the year 2025, marking the start of a new season. To bridge these two domains, Alcohol Change UK has enlisted the support of former professional footballer Neil Ruddock for the Dry January® challenge.
In the discussion titled ‘Mastering the Mix with Razor, Motty, and Frank,’ these three individuals share their individual stories involving alcohol, explore how drinking trends are shifting, and delve into the connection between alcohol and the soccer sphere.
Previously, Neil defended himself against critics who claimed he was dishonest during his weight loss experience following a surgical procedure.
In an open conversation with Loaded, Neil shared how his weight escalated to a staggering 28 stones due to clandestine fast-food sprees. It wasn’t until a health scare related to his heart prompted him to visit a specialist that he received a startling wake-up call.
As I grew larger, I found myself growing more and more lazy. He discussed what he referred to as ‘crazy, wicked, sorrowful, joyful, illness.’ According to him, those are all the possible emotions one may experience.
My enjoyment of food and beverages led me down a dangerous path, where I would overindulge in an attempt to find happiness. This habit quickly escalated, affecting both my physical and mental well-being. Eventually, I became quite unwell and was advised by a specialist that it was my heart causing the problem. The news that I had only three months left to live served as a stark wake-up call.
At that point, Razor weighed approximately 18.5 stones, and it was his wife Leah who proposed the idea of a gastric sleeve surgery, a procedure where a portion of the stomach is removed.
In my own words, let me share my journey: I underwent a double procedure – a pacemaker implantation and gastric sleeve surgery – to ensure my continued existence. The scales now read 10 stones lighter, but even amidst this transformation, the occasional naysayer dares to cast their judgment upon me.
People claim that I lost 10 stone by cheating, and they are correct, I did cheat. However, what I really cheated was death. For those who doubt me, yes, I cheated death. That’s the only thing I cheated at. And it was this cheating that saved my life. To all the doubters, move on. I had no other choice.
At the peak of his weight struggle, Neil often started his day with two bacon and egg toasted sandwiches, followed by a trip to the refrigerator at 11 am.
If Leah had filled their fridge with nutritious snacks, Neil might have instead found himself sneaking off to eat at places like KFC or McDonald’s.
In my experience as a lifestyle advisor, I found myself concealing my eating habits. I would leave for work and she’d ask, “What are you consuming?” My response was always, “I haven’t had much.” The truth was, I was dishonest, hiding my actions from the person I hold dearest, the one whose love means the world to me. If you’re deceiving them, you’re ultimately deceiving yourself.
During my football career, I diligently followed a diet for three decades. Yet, upon retiring, I found myself struggling to maintain my weight, and over time, the scale began to tip unfavorably.
Regarding the shift in his eating habits post-surgery, Neil mentioned that his meals are primarily made up of fish, potatoes, plant-based burgers, and various other vegetarian dishes.
Apart from that, he’s significantly increased his physical activity, transitioning from no exercise whatsoever to regular dog walks, frequent visits to the gym, and swimming sessions.
As a person who has been carrying extra weight, I can honestly say that I’ve made a conscious decision to lose some pounds, and I feel content with where I am now. I’m battling arthritis in both my knees, but thankfully, the discomfort is no longer present since I’ve shed some weight. This newfound mobility has brought me immense joy, and it’s a pleasure to move around freely. Additionally, clothes that once didn’t fit me perfectly are now tailored to my body, which was the most exasperating aspect of being overweight – not being able to find clothing that suited me well.
In a different part of the interview, Neil emphasized the significance of men expressing themselves for their mental well-being. He also expressed his desire to lead an all-male equivalent of ITV’s daytime talk show, Loose Women.
I successfully navigated the challenge, yet as previously mentioned, there’s absolutely no offerings tailored towards males in that environment. This is precisely why we advocate for ‘Loose Men’.
It’s important for men to support each other in staying on the right path. When I was overweight, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with how I looked.
Looking back at photos of myself now, it strikes me as unappealing. At the moment, though, I was disconnected and failed to recognize any issues. During that time, I found myself in such a mentally peculiar state that physical appearance wasn’t something I contemplated at all.
Team up with Razor, along with countless others opting for a sober January, and boost your odds of successfully completing the Dry January® challenge, sponsored by Alcohol Change UK, by using their Try Dry® app. Discover more about this alcohol-free journey and participate at dryjanuary.org.uk.
Read More
- PHA PREDICTION. PHA cryptocurrency
- FLR PREDICTION. FLR cryptocurrency
- ASTR PREDICTION. ASTR cryptocurrency
- MOVR PREDICTION. MOVR cryptocurrency
- WIF PREDICTION. WIF cryptocurrency
- MBL PREDICTION. MBL cryptocurrency
- ZRO PREDICTION. ZRO cryptocurrency
- MAGIC PREDICTION. MAGIC cryptocurrency
- UNI PREDICTION. UNI cryptocurrency
- APU PREDICTION. APU cryptocurrency
2025-01-08 18:51