Success Story: Hugo

Hugo, Age 32, Height 6ft

Start Weight	22st 11lbs
Current Weight	16st 1lb
Goal Weight	15st
Weight Lost	6st 10lbs
Working to Rate of Loss	1kg per week

Weight Loss History

Nothing formal - just reducing my intake.

I've always eaten a healthy mix/range of food, but just too much of it, and particularly too much high-cal ingredients like olive oil!

Have you lost weight before and regained the weight?

Yes, in the last few years I've started an increased exercise/reduced intake regime most summers, and lost a stone or so, but always put it back on.

How being overweight has affected you…

I've always been overweight, so it's more a question of how losing weight has positively affected me.

"I now feel more energetic, particularly in the early morning and evening, and much more confident socially (though I was never a recluse)."

People have commented I'm more talkative (and cheekier!).

Motivation to Lose Weight

I wanted to do this for my nephews and nieces, so that I could be more active with them as they grow up and be around to see them as they grow.

Also for my mother who was ill last year and had always worried about my weight.

I also felt that my weight was restricting my social life to some extent.

Discovering Weight Loss Resources

I had decided to start dieting, and was searching for the calorific values of some food, and came across the WLR database.

The simple premise of if CALS EATEN < CALS BURNED then you'd lose weight seemed much more rational than some diets!

How Weight Loss Resources Helps

I have lost almost 7st with the site in the last 12 months.

It has helped me regulate what I eat (while knowing I'm not starving myself), and 'rewarding' me with the weight graph showing my progress.

"I found entering the plan for the day gave me something to aim for each day."

There was some element of a confessional when going over the allowance and seeing by how much. Rather than worrying about it you know you've registered your blip and can move on.

The Best of Weight Loss Resources

I tend to use the diary mostly. I used to use the message boards which were very encouraging in the early stages, but I've used them less as I've lost the weight.

I found entering my food diary (as a plan for the day) VERY useful giving me something to aim for.

Tracking my weight with the chart was the reward.

Hugo's Calorie Counting Tips

My main comment is that it's worth the investment of time in entering foods and recipes into the diary.

You really feel that what you put in the diary relates to what you eat and therefore is relevant to your attempts to lose weight.

Different things work for different people.

"For me it was the 'mechanical' (in a good way!) WLR process and the GI diet principals coming together that did it."

Finally, if I can lose weight after being obese for 20ish years then most people can!