The result of a blood test taken at a routine visit to the doctor was the start of a health overhaul for Damien Oprel. Results revealed that his liver was infiltrated with fatty deposits, a condition which is commonly seen in heavy alcohol drinkers and, potentially, has serious consequences. Because he is not a big drinker Damien’s doctor put his liver problems down to a combination of his daily diet of fatty, fast foods. He prescribed better eating and better fitness.
Lower back pain was another health issue for Damien; it was an on-going problem which he feels was due to the extra weight he was carrying around. Sudden movements could put his back ‘out’ for a day or two and regular visits to the physiotherapist and/or chiropractor were normal practice.
Being a ‘foodie’, Damien enjoyed the wide world of foods, although perhaps too much of them in general and there’s no doubt that chocolate and fast foods featured strongly in the Oprel diet. Damien says, “After work, my partner Paul and I would go to a fast food outlet and between us would polish off a large family-sized feast. A lot of our food choices were down to convenience in the grab-something-quick way of living.”
Although Damien’s health issues were alarming, he put off the decision to tackle them as he just wasn’t in the right place, emotionally, for the big changes he needed to make. He says, “I pushed my health problems to the back of my mind and made myself think that I didn’t care. But, around a year or so after the unexpected blood test results, I began to accept the need for change.” The causes of Damien’s health problems were clear. He was sick and tired of being sick and tired and the search for the right plan to correct his diet, lose weight, and get fitter was on.
Click to enlarge photos
Damien before
Sick and tired
Damien after
Confident again
Before The Biggest Loser Club
Damien says, “I tried the pre-prepared plan, Lite n’ Easy. The food was great but I found it expensive and I also found it difficult to fit into my social life. I also gave the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet a go; the diet had great principles but I found it to be restrictive and it wasn’t long before I went back to my old ways.”
The Biggest Loser Club was third on the list and like most members, Damien came to The Club via his TV. He says, “I really enjoyed The Biggest Loser TV show. Taking a look at The Club, I liked the fact that it was personally tailored to my own, particular needs (something that was a priority in his search for the right weight-loss program) and it had lots of great, easy-to-use tools, too.”
Two months to get with the plan
Damien says, “I was strict with myself about using the menu plans I was given for the first one-and-a-half to two months, and then I started to relax and improvise a bit. But, I always made sure that I weighed absolutely everything. The Parmesan Chicken was, and still is, my favourite dish from the menu plans – it’s sooo tasty! And, the Chilli Beef recipe helped me start to get into the habit of adding lots more vegetables to meals. So now, I ‘bulk up’ heavier meals like bolognese and curries by adding masses of vegetables. I enjoy pasta and rice, too, but make sure I stay within my recommended portion sizes and, again, my new love for vegies helps to fill me up.”
The food/exercise balance
Knowing that exercise is vital to getting the balance right, Damien made sure that he upped his fitness. He says, “The exercise plans kept me motivated and gave me some good ideas on varying my workout to keep things interesting.”
An avid reader of the regular weekly article and challenge, Damien says, “I use many of the tips in the weekly article to this day, but one of my favourite articles was so simple: it was about how using a pedometer can make a difference to your fitness. Now, I use my pedometer daily and I never walk fewer than the 10,000 recommended steps. On most days, I clock up over 12,000. So, instead of catching the train home every evening from work, I now power walk the three stops home (it takes 55 minutes – rain, hail or shine). I really enjoy plugging in my iPod as I walk; it helps the work stresses of the day just melt away before I even get home!”
Living in maintenance mode
Damien’s progress has been steady (as any lifestyle change that is likely to become permanent tends to be). Looking at the photos, you can see the changes have also been dramatic. Six months after joining The Biggest Loser Club, Damien reached his goal weight and is now happy to say that he lives in ‘maintenance mode'. Because Damien got into the habit of cooking and preparing more meals and snacks and also because of his changed outlook on food and exercise, partner Paul has also shed about 5kg. Today, sushi, wholemeal pasta, brown rice and lots of soups are favourites in the Oprel household. And, Damien is now so much more cautious about what he eats and how much exercise he does.
Damien says, “Certainly, a bit more effort in planning is required, but The Biggest Loser Club menus have helped a lot. And, I know I can be flexible with it. So, if I eat a little more than I should, I enjoy what I am eating and I make up for it, too. So, I might swim an extra 10 laps or do some extra walking. It’s not that I don’t still enjoy the odd ‘treat’. It’s just that now, I accept that there will be consequences and I make up for it. It’s all in the balance.”
Whether losing weight or in maintenance mode, Damien remains a big fan of the interactive nature of The Club. He says, “My favourite part of the site is the diary – it is fascinating (and sometimes, frightening) to see just how many calories certain foods contain, including one of my past staples, fast food. I also really like using the graphs and calorie converter. It's so important to use the diary and learn, in depth, just how many calories are in foods – especially fast foods – it’s scary!”
Getting involved
The Biggest Loser Club forums were also a hit with Damien. He says, “I used the interactive chats to help me stay motivated and it was great to share my pains and wins every week after my weekly weigh-in. The support team were fantastic, too (you can e-mail a question and the team sends you an individual, personal answer); it was prompt and very helpful.”
Around six months ago when Damien joined The Biggest Loser Club, he weighed in at 101kg. Having lost 16kg, he is a svelte 85kg and for the first time in years, is happy with his weight. So what was it that made him so successful? Damien says, “[With the Club wesbite] you can see your results – plain and simple; they’re staring at you from the computer screen. I found it really interesting to see how well I did each day after I had logged my entries in my diary. And, I was accountable to myself. I didn’t want to disappoint myself at the end of the week on weigh-in day!”
Damien lives his life very differently now and is sure he won’t be returning to the bad old days. His advice to other members is: “Be patient – permanent results take time and a lot of self-education and you need time to break the bad habits that have crept up on you. But do be honest with yourself and your diary. If you have a relapse, it’s OK. Make sure that you start afresh the next day, though.”
He also has a lot more self-confidence: “I can sit down and feel that there is no huge stomach hanging over the edge [of my trousers]," he says. He is also happier and healthier; he even has fewer colds. "Life with my partner has just gotten better, too. We have fun going bowling or to the beach instead of going out to dinner and/or sitting around watching the TV all the time."
Having followed doctor’s orders, he now has a lot more energy generally and the back pain has gone as have his regular appointments with the physiotherapist and the chiropractor! He hasn’t returned to his doctor to check his liver function yet, but is confident that his new lifestyle will mean a clean bill of health. Well done Damien!