Like so many of us, Nikki, a Sydney-based occupational therapist, had been on the dieting roundabout before, generally losing a few kilos, getting frustrated, losing interest and getting off. That was, until her no-turning-back moment which happened at a GP surgery.
At a routine health check, Nikki was shocked to find that her blood pressure, normally ‘perfect’, was high. Stepping on the scales led to shock number two: Nikki’s weight of 97kg placed her in the category of ‘morbidly obese’.
Nikki says, “I couldn’t believe the effect that being overweight was having on my physical health and knew that it was time to do something about it. And, with all my failed weight-loss attempts behind me, I knew that this time I needed some outside help. I had really enjoyed watching The Biggest Loser and at the end of the second series, I saw an ad for The Biggest Loser Club – the timing was great!
“I signed up and started to explore The Club website. I really liked the fact that it was all tailored to suit me – my individual body (height, current weight, sex) and lifestyle (office worker, active) and I also really liked the food search. This tool was really useful because I could type in whatever I wanted and it would give me a run down of the calories in that food, including different brands and unlabelled foods like fresh fruit and vegies. I loved that the site offered me information on what MY daily intake should be – in other words what should make up my breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Learning about portion sizes and how they contribute to weight and health was another important message – I had never considered just how important portion sizes were before.”
Some of the other aspects that worked for Nikki included the regular, achievable exercise plans and the weekly psychological tips, such as why it’s important to purge the pantry of unhealthy foods. The weekly weigh-ins were another favourite, particularly the added convenience of weighing in via SMS. Nikki adds, “Logging in to The Club, I could see my kilos coming down just like it did for contestants on The Biggest Loser!”
Nikki carefully followed her personal food and fitness plan, but what really made things so much easier for her was the built-in flexibility. She says, “I realised that I could still have things like chocolate and takeaway, so long as I factored them into my daily calorie target. This meant I could eat out too; all I needed to do was look up my options in the food search, select the best choice and then work out how much of it I could eat. Doing this actually made me eat less ‘naughty’ food because I would think to myself: ‘right, I can have two Tim Tams or two slices of multigrain bread with Vegemite for the same calories!’ Most of the time, I would go for the healthier option because the other one really wasn’t worth it. Also, the calories in soft drinks and alcohol made me think – I switched to diet versions and cut back on alcohol plus I factored any drinks into my daily calorie intake. The Biggest Loser Club taught me about the importance of all these things altogether!”
Having now reached 70kg, Nikki’s weight is exactly in the middle of normal Body Mass Index (BMI) range, but she’s going for a loss of another two kilos or so to take her just under that mid-point. Her dress size has dropped from 22 to a svelte size 12. “Now, I can borrow my sister’s clothes – it’s a bit like gaining a whole new wardrobe!” she says.
Along with support from The Biggest Loser Club and her friends, family and colleagues, Nikki says it was great when people noticed how much weight she’d lost. She says, “My GP was so proud of me when I went back to see him recently and when I stepped back on the scales! My blood pressure has returned to its previously spot-on normal level and I am fitter and much more confident when I go out because of my new looks.”
Being at and staying at her healthy weight has boosted Nikki’s confidence, and the lessons she has learned are the kind that will last – Nikki’s not for going back. She says, “Reaching your healthy weight goal isn’t just about slimming down; so many other aspects of your life change for the better as a result – better confidence, better fitness, happiness and good health. What more could I ask for?”