Chris Gunning remembers his childhood with a touch of sadness. As an overweight youngster who became an obese teenager, his formative years were difficult on so many levels.
“At school I couldn’t do what the other kids did and wouldn’t participate in sports,” he explained. “I never branched out, never challenged myself and always had an excuse as to why I couldn’t do something.”
Concerned by the number of overweight children in society today, Chris says he finds it heartbreaking to see so many kids carrying around so much weight, and is determined that when he has children of his own, they won’t suffer the consequences of a bad diet and a sedentary lifestyle.
“I want my future kids to meet the people I didn’t meet and have the fun I didn’t have. I would never let them go through what I went through.”
No more big, baggy shirts
It was on Christmas Day, just over 12 months ago that Chris made the life changing decision to join The Biggest Loser Club.
“I was with the family and we were having a few beers around the pool. Everyone else went swimming but I refused because I didn’t want to take my shirt off, and that’s when it hit me. I couldn’t keep living like this, always saying no to everything, so I made the decision that I wouldn’t go through another summer this way.”
Determined to stick with his big plan, Chris then walked down to his local Coles, bought a Biggest Loser Club Meal Replacement starter pack which included a free seven-day meal plan, and immediately signed up.
A new lease on life
Today Chris is a fit and healthy young man with everything to live for. He carries his trim 68.5kg frame with confidence, enjoys his daily 5.30am gym sessions and is now looking forward to doing a team sport for the first time in his life.
“I’ve joined an indoor cricket team even though I’ve never played cricket before,” he laughed. “ I think I’m going to enjoy it and it’s certainly better than what I did before which was to hang out at home with my dogs like a recluse.
Click to enlarge photos
Chris before
Chris before
Chris before
Almost there
Chris after
Old habits die hard
When Chris joined The Club, it was goodbye junk food, goodbye Mr couch potato, and hello big, wide, wonderful world. But the change of pace wasn’t as easy as it sounds and even today Chris has to watch out for fast food enticements.
“I’m a sales rep so I’m on the road all the time,” Chris explained. “Before joining The Biggest Loser Club I was continually stopping at bakeries and buying sausage rolls and meat pies. In fact, it got to the stage where I was eating out at every meal and it was always fast food. I’d go for a combo (meal package) and then add an extra burger and a drink and still never felt full.”
Never, ever hungry
Concerned that The Biggest Loser program would render him hungry much of the time, Chris was initially apprehensive that it wouldn’t work for him but within no time at all he embraced it with gusto and perhaps surprisingly, he says he never once felt like he was denying himself food or suffering hunger pangs.
In fact, Chris reckons his food looks and tastes so good that his two flatmates are now following The Biggest Loser Club menu plan despite not needing to lose weight.
“I use the recipes from the website which are really easy to cook and my flatmates are now putting in requests for certain meals. They see the healthier options in front of me and they want what I’m having!”
Getting fit
It took Chris six months of consistently following menu plans and avidly using his diary to feel confident enough to join a gym. Today he’s a confirmed gym junkie and reckons his newfound stamina is also making him more productive at work.
“When I start work in the morning I am ready to. Before it would take me three to four coffees to get going and that wouldn’t happen until lunchtime. I think this new productivity is a combination of being happier in general, sleeping better and feeling better.”
Keeping the diary
For now, Chris intends to keep his Club diary by his side and says he is loving using the easily accessible mobile app which he uses while he’s on the road.
“The Biggest Loser Club is an excellent program because I can eat pretty much what I want as long as it’s within my calorie target. I guess I don’t really need the diary any more but I’m not prepared to put it away yet. I never want to go back to where I came from.”