Success Story: Martin

Martin, Age 41, Height 6ft 1in

Start Weight	16st
Current Weight	12st 11lbs
Goal Weight	13st
Weight Lost	3st 3lbs
Working to Rate of Loss	2lbs per 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.