From ‘Sumo’ size to survival: Billy Cotsis on reversing diabetes and reclaiming his health

“Bloody hellhole Billy, what diseases don’t you have?!”

That statement, pertinent, was ingrained successful my caput for a while, for it was true. Kinda. In October 2024 I was 50 kilos overweight, sporting a triple chin and acceptable to fulfill my imagination of becoming a Sumo – I mean person you seen the nutrient they devour and the attraction they receive!

I was besides told by smarter radical than the stubborn maine that I had sleep apnea (did that mean I had nightmares of Man U losing?), Diabetes Type 2 (my “type” was ever brunette, but hey….), reflux and a cough attributed to asthma. Apparently, a fewer months earlier I had asthma!

October 2024 changed me.

Cotsis says assemblage support and reconnecting with radical helped motivate his wellness transformation. Photo: Supplied

I decided to LISTEN, arsenic I was ever stubborn. Listen to doctors, perceive to Paul from work, perceive to Neeraj Chand who encouraged maine to get sleep studies done. I thought helium meant someone would conscionable watch maine sleep!

I listened to those who person diabetes and apnea. I realised changes were required. I had picked up stress from working bloody hard astatine my past economical improvement gig, too hard to the constituent I was taking connected dozens of projects and neglected my superpower, being calm and patient. I perpetually wanted to marque a quality for bosses who didn’t merit my talents. I had been a cool, calm persona for a loooooong time. When I was a youngster, you didn’t want to reason with me, I could spot some of my atrocious cognition returning owed to dense workloads. By 2022, 23 I had failed to spot the BIG weight gains, and my deficiency of patience. As an speech this each apt ensured a quicker ending to a large narration of that era, should I person been much diligent with such an astonishing woman? You stake – and for those who gamble, take 7/1 likelihood that I will ne'er ever screw up my wellness again!

BTW unsure if those likelihood are good, arsenic I don’t gamble!

Billy Cotsis down the camera, embracing photography and creativity during his wellness transformation journey. Photo: Supplied

A alteration of job, little stress and backmost amongst hardcore ethNICKS (multicultural peoples) and I was successful my constituent by the extremity of 2024.

The Doctor made sure I had a sleep apnea mask. “Customer” feedback was that the disguise makes maine look much attractive. Who knew! Between October 2024 – July 2025, I became a user….. of the CPAP. It made a quality arsenic my oxygen travel improved, sleeping better.

Once successful September 2024 I had three naps – atrocious and unhealthy. Though I did imagination Man U was winning, hence making maine want to sleep more.

People encouraged maine to retrieve who I was once, a runner. Not moving from anyone, but I was erstwhile super acceptable and understood my body. Not successful the The Divinyls type of way, alternatively arsenic an jock arsenic I ever played sport. Not that astatine bully astatine it, similar the Great Wall of Focker.

During a coastal walk, 1 of the manner changes helium credits with improving his fittingness and wellbeing. Photo: Supplied

I changed my diet. Yes, I americium sweet enough; the sugar had to go. There is sugar successful astir everything. Took maine until December 2024 to work retired dietary needs. I was successful Papua New Guinea and learnt to accidental nary to caller foods, I was yet good with eating smart whereas usually connected travels I would gorge. Buffets successful Latina America the erstwhile year were my “enemy!”, 15 nations that served up monolithic meals for this Grego/Griego/Gringo.

Diet amendment: other thin meats, salads, little food for a while though feta ne'er near my side, similar a bully puppy, highly debased carb/low taste bread, water alternatively of coke zero, plain coffee, nary treats that accidental “sugar free” and a fewer berries and strawberries for breakie. Essentially, I went connected strike from sugar and embraced nutrient similar omelettes. I stopped eating crap similar say, Maccas.

My mum Maria Cotsis was a star. Whereas earlier she would marque maine a smorgasbord of Greek foods and sweets, it was present steamed veggies and thing healthy.

Kudos to a scope of eateries who went retired of their way to assistance me. Steki Taverna were 1 of the spell to places for my dietary needs and Zaatar Zaytoun astatine Wakeley present person the “Billy Omelette” connected their menu. I gag not, Miriam, her awesome member and the staff made a BIG quality to my life. They understood my predicament. Occasionally I take a nary sugar treats, but will acquisition from their business.

Billy Cotsis aft an Indoor 5’s futsal match, portion of the fittingness regular that helped transform his health. Photo: Supplied

People made an effort with me. The kindness and encouragement, from my ain boss, colleagues, a fig of eateries, household particularly and sports chums. You spot I play futsal mostly with Vicky and Chris Kerpiniotis’ Indoor 5’s. Thanks to their competitions astatine USYD and Glebe/Broadway, I play with my teams; players are astir each successful their aboriginal to mid-20s which means I indispensable beryllium acceptable and fast. The players situation maine arsenic I americium their worst player, yet they tolerate me. Helps we person made astir 5 expansive finals and won two. Michael, Joey, Anna, Tania, Sasha, Adam, John, Jose, Char, Laura, Irene, Trinity, Miriam, person been the mainstays particularly for the team called Billie Jean is NOT my Striker. I think Joey and Michael coined the sanction to marque amusive of me. LOVE IT.

In essence an improved diet, greenish tea each morning, 1.5 litres of water minimum, nary late-night eating, minimal stress and bully radical astir maine on with applicable sports = success.

My tennis buddies beryllium it Neeraj, George T, Paul our token non ethnic, Tassos Bouzouki, Nick, Akis and the squash unit of Will, Josh, Constantine, person each helped. More than they will ever know.

Just similar Paul astatine work, their examples helped me. Neeraj knew it from the outset arsenic helium busted my balls, not the tennis balls, for maine to get tested. Seda my Turkish workfellow supported maine arsenic a gym buddy. Currently person a busted manus which means nary gym, conscionable the unusual java with a mate called Jim.

As of 22 March, I americium diabetes free.

Enjoying a caller lifeline. Photo: Supplied

Funny story, laughter with me, humour me…. the testing astatine the extremity of 2024 showed I was technically Diabetes 1, yet I begged and begged my Doctor to fto maine judge I americium 2, arsenic its astir intolerable to reverse Type 1. Thanks Doctor, arsenic my results today amusement maine sweet arsenic a person, tough connected sugar arsenic I WON! Task completed with aplomb, ecstatic.

I ne'er had asthma btw, it was the easiest way for some aesculapian radical to explicate however mediocre my wellness was, which besides included HIGH humor unit for a while. That too was eradicated similar a Men In Black movie arsenic I returned to normalcy by February 2025.

To observe my victory, I had a strong coffee, feta and looked astatine a slice of barroom successful a store window, salivating. I nary longer person the tendency for sugar arsenic I americium sweet capable without it.

Thank you to everyone who helped.

I instrumentality the favour by giving proposal to anyone who needs it. Message maine astir your wellness and I will listen, something I was atrocious astatine for a fewer years. Our bodies are each different. My champion practise whitethorn beryllium antithetic to yours. What I bash cognize is that astatine 49, I americium arsenic acceptable arsenic Ronaldo, good possibly let’s conscionable accidental arsenic acceptable arsenic I was astatine 30. Remember, adjacent if you bash not conscionable your weight goals, springiness it a go. I was ever blessed when I was a Sumo, conscionable arsenic blessed not being a Sumo, conscionable faster and overmuch fitter now.

*Billy Cotsis is the writer of 1453: Constantinople & The Immortal Rulers.