Irish chef Kevin Dundon has opened up about his journey with health, weight loss and finding a healthier headspace. The celebrity chef has lost three stone in two months, and alongside that, has improved his mental health after feeling at "rock bottom" earlier this year.

The 57-year-old found that as the months went on, he began to sink lower and lower and that not even his family or his passion for food could bring him out of this hole. After hitting nearly 18 stone, he decided for the sake of his own physical and mental health, as well as his family, something had to change.

Finding the Source of the Struggle

Dundon shared that while many people had time to slow down during the pandemic, he did not, and the burn out began to take its toll. He explained that the pandemic forced him to find new ways of paying the bills, including starting online classes. When everything went back to normal, he continued to work finding himself burning the candle at each end, eventually leading to a breakdown.

He said 'There were listless days when he 'didn't have the energy for work. I would go down to work, but then I would come back home and lie on the couch for the afternoon. My motivation was gone. My feeling was, what's the point? I felt like I was running away from everything.'

Turning to Food for Comfort

Knowing that he had plenty of people around him to chat with, including his wife Catherine, he began to comfort his pain with food. He described a change in his eating habits, saying: "My portion sizes got bigger. Where I’d usually have had a dinner of a quarter of roast chicken with two or three roast potatoes, suddenly I was eating five or six roast potatoes and half a chicken and gravy – and I was still hungry. If I was having a cup of tea, it wouldn’t just be a biscuit, it would be a packet of biscuits."

This shift in his eating habits, combined with his increasing stress and exhaustion, eventually led to a point where Dundon realized he was in a deeply unhappy state. "I was totally depressed. I would definitely say I was depressed. I have great friends. There are five of us — and two in particular I could talk to about anything. I also had my wife, Catherine, so it wasn’t as if I didn’t have anyone to talk to." He acknowledged the support system he had, but he was still struggling to find a way out of his depression.

The Turning Point

While dealing with his depression, he turned to food, and after realizing nothing in his wardrobe fit him anymore, he sought out a change. He acknowledged the comments from the public, adding: "When you’re in the public eye, there are people who would come up to you and say, ‘Jeez, I didn’t realise you were that fat’. Oh, my God, you wouldn’t believe what they would say. ‘You’re a lot fatter than I thought you were’. Literally as blunt as that."

These comments served as a stark reminder of the impact his weight gain had on his appearance and his overall health. It was a wake-up call for Dundon, leading him to realize that he needed to take action and change.

Taking Control of His Health

Kevin headed to the Ayurvedic Health Resort in India - where he was able to quit his smoking habit two years ago - and embarked on an two-week Panchakarma detox programme to kickstart his progress. The detox was a godsend to the chef and helped him when it came to his mental and physical health. He explained: "I feel so happy in myself and so creative about work again. I’m not sleeping during the day and I want to be out and about or swimming in the Forty Foot. My family think it’s great and my kids are really proud of me."

Dundon emphasizes the importance of personal motivation for achieving change. He said: "One thing I learned is that change has to come from yourself. People ask me how I did it and I tell them, ‘You need to be ready to do it yourself’. No one can convince you to change."

Looking Ahead

Dundon's story is a powerful reminder that even successful individuals like him can experience struggles with mental health and weight. His openness about his journey is inspiring and encouraging to others who may be facing similar challenges. It highlights the significance of seeking support, taking control of your well-being, and the transformative power of prioritizing both physical and mental health.

Kevin Dundon's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for positive change even in the face of adversity. By sharing his experience, Dundon is helping to break the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging others to seek help when needed. His journey serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us that recovery is possible and a healthier, happier life is within reach.