A software engineer from Whitstable sees the silver lining of being stuck at home as he breaks his sugar addiction.

Ryan Varley believes this is a great opportunity for people to dedicate some time to their own needs and interests.

He said: "I had an unhealthy relationship with sugar before lockdown. I was particularly stressed due to a project at work. But the way I process stress is by eating everything.

"At work we have a lethal snack fridge. When particularly stressed, it's so easy to think, 'instead of doing this uncomfortable action right now, I could go and get a delicious chocolate bar.'

"Then before you know it, the thing you do when you're stressed, tired, bored, or just challenged, is grab a chocolate bar."

Instead of his usual stable diet, Ryan found himself eating a large galaxy bar every day, buying loads of snacks when shopping and eating lots of fast food.

The euphoria from eating would trigger a desperation for more sugary food. Realising he had to face lockdown after gaining almost two stone, he decided it was time to take a stand.

The 31-year-old who lives in Maugham Court said: "On the first day of lockdown, I had just stocked up. But then decided I would become incredibly unfit if I continued isolation by devouring all of these snacks and sweets.

"I put it all in a bag, dropped it around my partner's parents house and asked them if they could keep hold of it until I felt ready to have them back."

Ryan spent the next week-and-a-half only eating rice, vegetables and tuna in order to cut all of the sugar out of his diet, then moved on to slightly more interesting foods.

Being away from social pressure has helped him break the addiction. Where before going out with friends and being drawn in by food bargains would lead him to eat or drink more, isolation has given him a space to be in full control of his eating.

He added: "Lockdown allowed me to get through the hardest part of retraining myself. In the beginning, I would dream about snacks then wake up wanting snacks. Now I can very much take it or leave it."

As well as losing over a stone in just a few weeks, Ryan expects to see his mental health improve, adding: "Eating food to make yourself feel good doesn't last. Generally there's a mixture of shame and disgust when you think about what you've just eaten.

"So removing all that negativity from my life and not being dependant on something to support my mental state is going to have a positive effect."

Choosing to focus on the bright side of isolation, he's enjoying 'leveling up' his interests such as programming and playing the guitar.

On an uplifiting note to those struggling with lockdown, he said: "Find something you find interesting and requires time to learn. "Dedicate some time to yourself and expand on what you can do. Then when you get to see your friends again, you can show them all the new cool stuff you can do."

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