When you’re overweight and you want to start shedding pounds, the logical place to start is with what you eat. But what happens when your body starts to adjust to your new healthy way of eating and your weight stalls? This week’s Amazing Loser hit a plateau, but has found that joining the gym is the kickstart he needs. And it wasn’t as bad as he was fearing…
- Name: Matt Wood (ask him anything on Talk, follow him on Twitter)
- Location: Birmingham, UK
- Job: End user computing engineer
- Height: 5’10 (177cm)
- Age: 25
- Highest weight: 339lbs (154kg)
- Lowest weight: 236lbs (107kg)
- Plan: Slimming World
How did you get to the position where you needed to lose weight?
I was always a chubby kid, and carried on that way all through my life, I’ve never been a healthy weight.
[blocktext align=”right”]”I’ve never been a healthy weight”[/blocktext]
What negative experiences did you have of being overweight?
My social life suffered as a result of lack of confidence and just not feeling 100% all the time.
What made you decide to change?
The big kick in the teeth was when I started working at my current place of work and I realized that I needed to be in better shape than I was. This was my first job and my first experience of proper life, I suppose this is what made me think long and hard about myself.
[blocktext align=”right”]”I used to eat anything that was around”[/blocktext]
How did you do it?
I’ve been working on my weight for 4 years now, so it hasn’t been a fast process, I have been exercising more and more and Slimming World (which encourages members to eat freely from a list of healthy food and curbs unhealthy foods) has really helped me to learn how to eat healthier.
What did you eat before you lost weight?
I used to eat anything that was around, which meant a lot of fast food and processed food that was always in the house.
What do you eat now?
Now I eat mostly homemade food, Slimming World recipes. I make my own lunch for work which is normally a chicken wrap. I have a weekly cheat meal which helps keep me going through the week
How was the journey? Straightforward or were there a few plateaus along the way?
The journey has been difficult, there have been times when I’ve wondered what the point is, but I have kept going to where I am now. I seem to have plateaued around the 17st mark (238lbs) which is why I am now exercising at the gym to tone up the remaining fat.
[blocktext align=”right”]”I feel like a proper person now”[/blocktext]
You’ve just joined the gym, how are you finding it?
Yes, I’ve just done my first week and I’m aching! It went much better than I thought it would and I’m ready to get going again this weekend!
What put me off before was the “gym people”, those that go 6 times a week and are ripped, I was worried that they would judge the fat guy working out. But this hasn’t been the case at all.
How has life changed now you’ve lost weight?
Life has improved immensely, I am much happier than I was and I feel better in my life. I feel like a proper person now, whereas before I didn’t really feel like that.
Who helped you the most and who got in the way?
Everyone has been really supportive, my mom has helped with the meals she cooks and my brother has been giving me support and pushing me with exercise, he is going to the gym with me and helping me to get the rest of the way. My friends at work, who I spend most of the day with during the week, have also been really supportive and helped keep me on track.
What surprised you about losing weight?
I’m surprised about how easy it is to get into the rhythm. I know I said it has been a difficult journey, but it’s amazing how little things you do all add up to help.
If you could go back to the person you were at your heaviest – what would you say to him?
I would give him some advice on how to start the process and tell him that it will be difficult, but just to look at me now and know that it will be for a good reason.
You’re Prime Minister for the day, what one law do you bring in to help others who are obese?
I would put a price increase on items that have a high sugar content, same goes for things that have a high saturated fat content. These are the things that got me in trouble and any deterrent would help.
I would also lower the price of healthier alternatives…one of the main problems at the moment is how you can buy a fatty burger for 99p but it costs almost £5 for a salad, how can that make any sense?
What do other fat men need to know about losing weight?
Just know that you are not alone. It will be difficult to get rid of the fat but you will feel so much better afterwards.
Also just know that there will be so many people around you who will want to help you and encourage you… I couldn’t have done it without them.
What else should we know about your weight loss story?
It’s not over yet…
Our thanks to Matt and don’t forget – as with all our Amazing Losers and their weight loss before and after stories, you can find him on Talk and ask him anything you like!
