Cork man lost 3 stone after promising dying brother he would lose weight

Mon, 13 Jan, 2025 - 07:07

It’s not often you get the golden opportunity to best your older brother. But Proinsias Collins has not only won a life-long bet with his sibling Pádraig, he also fulfilled a promise to him.

“Pádraig asked me to try to lose weight and get healthier so that I could live my life, and to do what I could to live as long as I could,” says Proinsias, a dad of two who is from West Cork and who lives in Midleton.

Pádraig passed away aged 55 on July 1, 2022, but Proinsias carried out his pledge, losing almost three stone, enhancing his health, and living a healthier more active life.

Brotherly love has fierce power.

“Pádraig and I were very close growing up in Innishannon,” says Proinsias. “There were eight of us in the family and only a year between Padraig and I.”

The brothers sported and played together.

“We both played under 12 hurling and football,” says Proinsias.

“Pádraig played minor hurling and football for Cork until he injured his calf and his knee. At 19, his injuries ruled out any further progress in sport, although he won an All-Ireland with his school in Carrignavar playing football.

Pádraig wasn’t always by Proinsias’ side, but he was always in his heart.

“Pádraig travelled with work to Italy where he settled and married a girl from Italy. They had a family together.

“He was in the beef industry, liaising between Ireland and Italy, and was very happy.”

However, in 2018, Pádraig was diagnosed with cancer. In July, 2022, he decided to return to Cork.

“Pádraig rang us to say he was making the trip home,” says Proinsias.

“My sister and I met him at the airport, all excitement at seeing him again.”

The siblings got a shock when they saw their brother at Cork Airport.

“He hadn’t told us how sick he was,” says Proinsias.

Proinsias Collins after losing three stone

“A wheelchair had to be arranged for Pádraig at the airport and a doctor had to be arranged to be on call. Realising he was so sick came as a bit of a shock.”

At home, Pádraig was quickly ailing, and he was bed-bound.

He had a personal wish he wanted to fulfil.

“Pádraig wanted to die at home,” Proinsias explains.

The brothers had quality time together, albeit far too brief.

“I got to talk to him on my own,” says Proinsias. “Pádraig was lucid, and we could have a chat and a laugh.

“I was fairly overweight at the time, three stone heavier than I am now.

“Over the years, Pádraig and I used to place bets as to which one of us was the heaviest. By now it was a sure bet that I was much heavier, over 16 stone.”

Pádraig now had a request to ask of his brother.

“He asked me to promise him that I’d do my best to lose the weight,” says Proinsias.

“He said if he had his life to live over again, he would do all the right things to try and live as long as he could, as best he could, doing all in his power not to get sick.”

Proinsias was sick of being overweight, sick of being lethargic, sick of trying to buy clothes sizes that weren’t stocked in chain stores.

“Trying to buy clothes was a nightmare,” he says.

Proinsias Collins promised his brother he would lose weight.

“I had to resort to triple and double X sizes. I couldn’t buy clothes for myself in the high street shops.”

What was Proinsias’ weak spot regarding calorific food?

“I have a very sweet tooth,” he says. “And I love chocolate!”

Growing up in West Cork, the best of food was always plentiful.

“We were good grubbers!” says Proinsias.

His lifestyle as an adult was not an active one.

“I am sitting down a lot doing my job managing a transport website,” says Proinsias. “Lack of exercise was another bad habit.”

He wanted to lose bad habits and gain good habits in order to fulfil his promise to his late brother.

“I gave my pledge to Pádraig before he passed away to lose the weight and get healthier,” says Proinsias.

“I felt the burden of the weight standing up at the gathering at Pádraig’s funeral.

“I thought I wasn’t representing Pádraig properly. I badly wanted to represent him as best I could.”

Pádraig had laid down the gauntlet and Proinsias was more than ready to take on the challenge.

“I had joined Slimming World before covid,” he says.

“It had worked but then I couldn’t do the plan on my own.”

He took matters into his own hands.

“Within a month of Pádraig passing, I joined Slimming World in Midleton,” says Proinsias.

Pádraig, always in Proinsias’ heart, was encouraging his brother to live his best life.

Proinsias was adamant to keep his word to his beloved brother.

“By October, I had lost two stone which was my initial target,” says Proinsias. “I wanted to lose more weight by Christmas.”

You bet he did!

“By Easter, which coincided with Pádraig’s birthday, I reached my target of three stone weight loss. It was my present to him.”

At Slimming World, Proinsias got the gifts of support, friendship and encouragement.

Was he the only man among women there?

Proinsias laughs.

“No, I wasn’t! But even if I was, that wouldn’t matter. Everyone was at Slimming World for the same reason. We were all in the same boat with common goals.”

They were a band of brothers?

“That is a good way of putting it,” Proinsias agrees.

“We were all there for each other. I kept going to Slimming World meetings every week whether I lost weight, stayed the same weight, or put on weight. I got the same support, the same camaraderie week after week no matter what.

“Every milestone is celebrated. I’ve made great friends at the club. The sense of belonging is really special. There is no judgement.”