Mike's story

Your start weight, current weight and how much weight have you lost and how long did it take?

I started at 27st 9lbs387lbs175.5kg and I’m currently at 16st 9lbs233lbs105.7kg. I started around March/April 2023, so just over 2 years now. I am aiming to get into the 15-stone bracket. I know I'll never be ‘perfect’ in terms of BMI, but I have long since learnt this is only one metric to look at!

What prompted your decision to lose weight?

A number of reasons. My family, in particular my daughter, not having energy or being able to do things I wanted or should do, but also thinking about potential longer-term scenarios. I vividly remember a moment of ‘shock’ on a previous employer's ‘team building’ day when we were walking down what felt like a mountain in Switzerland (yes, down, not up!) and I honestly thought I was going to collapse. I was so out of breath trying to keep up, they had to hold the train for me (there was a train partway up/down) - I can remember finally getting on and not being able to talk, trying to catch my breath. I also really injured my knees. I was so embarrassed, and I think it was this, plus in general knowing I needed to change my lifestyle, coming together, and it just kind of went from there.

How did you hear about Nutracheck?

I initially used a different app (sorry!), but I had lots of problems with it. I liked the idea of tracking what I ate, but this other app was not catering for the UK, which made it really tricky to keep it going. I had used the free trial with Nutracheck but then decided to pay and never looked back. It really helps me stay on top.

Has your weight stayed fairly consistent over the years, or have you always had to manage it?

I had always been big, all through school and college. I think, like many during Covid, things accelerated even further.

Have you experienced any health improvements?

I had never been diagnosed with anything, but likely that was partly because I never went to the doctor out of fear of what they would say. I do remember one visit many years ago, he was so mortified by my BMI, he said, "I am going to write that down and give it to you so you don't forget how bad it is"! I know from home monitoring that my blood pressure was very high, and I did have a lot of problems with one of my knees after that team-building trip - this pain kept me awake on and off for a very long time after.

How easy was it to fit the changes you made into your lifestyle?

I had tried in the past different diets, and none of them really worked. I think because I was trying to do too much in one go, and it wasn't realistic. This time, I decided I wasn't going to ‘diet’ but to simply change my ways over time. I started walking, and I started to track what I ate. This, for me, was much easier than ‘dieting’, and I then incorporated more over time, like intermittent fasting and more exercise. I think because I did things slowly, it didn't feel like such a ‘change’ and so was easier to stick to.

What was the most difficult thing about your weight-loss journey?

Not giving up. There were and always will be those days or weeks when I just wanted to give up. Where I saw or felt no progress. These times were the hardest. I started watching lots of videos, reading articles etc., and what stood out to me the most was the phrase "just keep showing up". Consistency always wins in the end, and this is what that saying means to me and helped to keep me going and stick to it.

How do you feel now compared to before?

Health-wise I feel so much better. As I made progress, I really stepped up my exercise - I love to run and do a 10k most Saturdays (having started with C25K), re-discovered my bike, and most of all, I love to walk, especially with my family (including the dog). So fitness-wise, I feel 100 times better than I ever remember feeling; I can do so much more. Weight-wise, for sure I feel proud - I have done things I couldn't do before (due to weight limits), and I can buy clothes from normal shops. Importantly, I feel better mentally - I have a different relationship with food now. I am much more aware of what I eat, when I eat it, and what's in it. This comes naturally when tracking food - I feel I am in control now.

Any notable milestones to report?

Hitting 10 stone was something I never thought would be possible without some medical intervention. Whilst it's much harder and slower now, it's still moving. That and being able to go on a ‘Tree Top Adventure’ (like Go-Ape) with my daughter because I was under the weight limit!

What 3 tips would you give to anyone who has weight to lose?

1. Don't think about dieting or restrictions. I didn't deprive myself of anything during this journey. Think about calories as cash in your pocket. You have a total budget to spend - spend it on what you want or need, just don't go over across a week.
2. Be consistent. Keep doing all those things that collectively will add up. Reduce the calories to get your deficit (and keep adjusting as you lose), move a little more, and then move a little more after that. Just keep showing up!
3. Don't compare yourself to others. We are all on this at our own pace - there is no ‘right speed’ or quantity or rate of loss - this is unique to all of us. Some weeks will be better than others, and some weeks it will go the wrong way. Sometimes you just have to step back and look at the journey, not the week or day, and you will see the progress you are making individually.