A new Manuel

Press, 29 September 1979, Page 1

A new Manuel

Manuel Kimi used to eat a dozen meat pies at a sitting. A year ago he weighed 227 kg (35 stone), and he had to wear these trousers, held here by his father, Mr Taili Kimi. But since he joined Weight Watchers 31 weeks ago, Mr Kimi, of Mangere, has shed 124 kg (19| stone), A year ago he was too embarrassed to appear in public. Everybody stared at him. “While I didn’t show it outside, inside I felt really down as I looked at all the slim guys with their

girlfriends,” he said yesterday. But now Mr Kimi, a storeman, and . .e pride of Weight Watchers, is a comparatively trim 105 kg (16) stone). Mr Kimi, last evening slipped into a new suit and went to a ball to collect his prize, a holiday for two.

“I wanted a pinstripe suit because I think they look really good,” he said. “I thought that if I ever got down to a reasonable weight. I’d get one, and does it ever look swish.” The gigantic weight loss has altered life drastically for Mr Kimi, who also knew every take-away bar in Auckland. He can now cross his legs and bend to do his shoelaces. He can get to the movies, too. As a super-heavyweight one seat could not support him.