Martin's Calorie Counting Success Story
As a local councillor, Martin felt a hypocrite talking about
health and wellbeing issues. This spurred his weight loss goals
with WLR. To date he has lost 3 stone.
Age: 41
Height: 6' 1"
Start Weight: 16st
Current Weight: 12st 11lb
Goal Weight: 13st
Weight Lost: 3st 3lb
Working to Rate of Loss: 2lb a week
Time Taken: 3 months
Dieting History
I have never really been into fads, although I tried
Atkins
once, which was really stupid because I have kidney disease.
Have you lost weight before and regained the weight?
I have occasionally lost weight through a combination of diet
and exercise, but I have always put it back on and never really
found the strength to get my weight down to a sensible level.
How being overweight has affected you…
I started to dislike seeing a fat bloke looking back at me
every time I looked in the mirror.
I have blood pressure problems (again not good for someone
with kidney disease).
I am really self-confident. The only area where there was a
problem was my weight and my body. I would rarely take a shirt
off in public, even on holiday. Now I have my weight sorted
there will be no stopping me.
As a local Councillor, I felt a bit of a hypocrite talking
about important issues like health and wellbeing whilst I was 3½
stone overweight.
Motivation to Diet
Initially the motivation was a half-hearted pledge, with my
wife, to do the Great North Run in 2006. This became a challenge
that meant something when someone told me I couldn’t do it. I
dropped a stone through the early exercise and training, but
then my weight just stuck at 16 stone.
Once I discovered WLR I realised I could get rid of all the
excess fat and the desire to be a “normal” weight became a huge
factor, so did the need to sort out my blood pressure and get
off the tablets. I have just been prescribed the lowest strength
blood pressure tablets and my GP has said that after some more
monitoring I could come off them altogether.
I also set myself goals and rewarded myself. When I hit 15 ½
stone I got a new tattoo. Now I have got under 14 stone my wife
is treating me to a weekend away and at 13 ½ stone (normal
weight for my size) I am going to do something different with my
hair for the first time in 20 years. I think weight loss may
have turned me into a girl!!
I completed the Great
North Run in 2h 16m and also ran the Great Eastern Run and have
entered a number of other
running events.
Discovering Weight Loss Resources
I read something on a running forum about
calorie counting to
help weight loss, searched on the internet for “calorie
counters” and found Weight Loss Resources. The rest is history.
How Weight Loss Resources Helps
For me WLR made the difference. After the first week
when I lost 3lb, a switch went inside me. I realised that
calorie counting worked and that WLR was a vehicle to get my
weight problem sorted out forever.
The message boards are really supportive, with limitless
advice from people that are going through the same difficulties.
I am also the sad sort of person that likes to get into
detail about what I am doing – so I found the research facility
really useful.
The Best of Weight Loss Resources
The Forums are a great source of
motivation and advice.
Reading about other people’s success is great, but so is
realising that you are in the same boat as others and having
somewhere to turn for support when you have a bad day.
The ease with which the food database works makes life really
simple too.
Martin's Calorie Counting Tips
Set yourself realistic goals and reward your self for
achieving them. Weight loss is a simple process, but it is
difficult emotionally, you deserve to reward yourself for
succeeding. Put pictures of your rewards on the fridge and on
the kitchen cupboards where your “naughty” food is kept.
Relish the good stuff. I remember sending some really
self indulgent posts to the forums when I bought a new suit
which had a chest 4 inches smaller than my old ones, or when I
accidentally put on my sons jeans and they fitted. Posting your
successes will make you feel good about yourself; it will also
help to show others it can be done. |
