Stuart lost 20kg! Just one of the many benefits he discovered with Weigh-Less
An unhealthy lifestyle coupled with overindulging in the wrong foods, saw Stuart gain weight without much concern. The excess weight he was carrying caused health related issues, including back and knee pains. He joined Weigh-Less, and he is not only 20kg lighter, but has achieved other successes.
Unhealthy choices
At the time I had lost two people very close to me, a work colleague and my cousin: both as a result of unhealthy lifestyles. My work colleague was forty-five when he passed away two years ago – he was overweight and did not eat healthily, he also worked hard, and partied even harder. I was nearing his age and his death was the wakeup call I needed.
I started gaining weight when I became involved in motorsport marshaling. Fast food and working with friends meant that I overindulged all day (I put on more than 20kg in six years). I would eat for the sake of eating, and not just because I was hungry (marshaling can be boring at times) as it kept me distracted. My staple daily diet would consist of lots of Portuguese take-out, packets of Lemon Creams (I could easily finish a packet in one evening), two litres of Coke, eight to ten cups of coffee (with two sugars) and a pack of cigarettes a day – and this was only during working hours! But yet still I would joke saying that I was in shape, and that round was also classified as a shape!
I suffered from severe back and knee pains as a result of my heavy frame, I snored quite a bit and did not have much energy. Being a couch potato was somewhat easier than doing garden work and basic exercising. Not having much energy also had an effect on my work, where my workload and related pressures also caused me to suffer from nausea and stress. I did not feel comfortable being at social functions, and when taking off my shirt to go swimming I was embarrassed that I had developed a barrel for a stomach. I had also been treated twice for ulcers.
It can be done, the Weigh-Less way.
My girlfriend was concerned about my weight and related health problems and suggested that I get back the body I had when we first met. Then one day she just said, “We’re going to Weigh-Less on Saturday to start a healthy Eating Plan and I want you to join with me so we can do it together!” She and I had previously tried various diets, but got bored and lost interest in them shortly after starting. We just never felt comfortable with any of them. Any man knows it’s difficult enough arguing/negotiating with a lady (let alone my girlfriend, who is an attorney!) As such, my options were limited and so decided why not, and thought if I lost 5kg I’d be happy, and hopefully she would be happy too.
So we both joined the closest Weigh-Less Group. Our Group Leader was always insightful and showed an interest in us being successful and happy. I thought that I was only going to need to lose about 5kg, so you can imagine my shock at the first weigh-in when the scale tipped the 100kg mark. Only then did I realise what my unhealthy diet had done to my body, and the effect it was having on not only my health and lifestyle, but also how it was affecting my girlfriend. “You need to lose at least 15 – 17kgs” were words I will never forget hearing from my Weigh-Less Group Leader. I walked away thinking that this was going to be a challenge, and I questioned my ability to get to Goal.
The first day was probably the worst; vicious headaches and a tingling feeling – pure caffeine withdrawal! Initially not having the coffee/caffeine and sweet treats was difficult for me. I would also feel guilty about eating more than what I should when I was away on business trips, but I realized that the Eating Plan allows you to be relaxed at times when it comes to food choices as long as you are mindful (I call it managing the lifestyle) and have the self-discipline to get back on track. I also realized that I never wanted to go back to where I was at the start of the journey, so I used this as my motivation to keep strong.
After coming to terms with the workings of the Eating plan, and proving to myself that I could be disciplined, it proved to be much easier than I previously thought. Since then it was all about being mindful of what I ate and managing my eating habits. Weigh-Less made me realise that being on a health plan could be enjoyable. Initially I could not finish all the meals, as my body was not used to the change in lifestyle. However, I started off slowly, with my girlfriend at my side and vice versa, and our change in lifestyle yielded results. I had also set myself a few smaller personal goals (i.e. to lose 5kg, then 10kg then 15kg and so on).
Partner support
Each weigh-in was something to look forward to, and each time I achieved the goal I had set, I felt an amazing sense of achievement. After about three weeks I started to notice that my pants were becoming looser, and it felt great that I had started something and actually stuck to it. My girlfriend and I would joke that we both thought that I wouldn’t last a week, but she was my biggest motivation throughout my journey, and her encouragement was a special gift that nobody else could have given me. Few would understand this unless they have had the same support. In fact, this was most rewarding part of my weight loss journey; that we travelled it together. The lifestyle change was like a gift from each of us to the other.
The Weigh-Less Eating Plan has become a daily routine that is easily managed. My family understands what I am trying to do, and they are all thrilled with what I have achieved. They have also started enjoying the occasional Weigh-Less meal (and in particular my own version of pizza). At most family dinners I can now afford to ‘cheat’ a little, but I am mindful of binging and always bring ourselves back in line with the programme straight away.
Personally, it feels like we have fallen in love with each other all over again and our life together is better than ever before. I am also now not embarrassed to take my shirt off at a braai or go swimming in public without a shirt on. I have also started developing more muscle definition (though not quite the six-pack I used to have many years ago) but it is getting there! I am down from a size 38 to a 34 and have had to get rid of most of my clothing in favour of smaller-sized clothing. My shirt size has gone from extra large (looked more like a body-hugging t-shirt) to a large that is a slim look.
Being a proud Member of Weigh-Less has taught me the value of a healthy lifestyle. It has taught me to manage how I eat, whilst still enjoying the foods that I eat. It has shown me that life is all about choices and that the choice we make can be the only difference between yourself and the person next to you. As I watch other people stuff their faces with junk food and all the delicacies I used to enjoy, I no longer crave those things but only wish people could see what they are doing to themselves.