Forty-three-year-old accountant Renato Marin was in full couch-potato mode watching TV earlier this year when he noticed an ad about the health risks of diabetes.
It was a life-changing moment. As the commercial highlighted the dangers of being overweight, Renato suddenly realised he was a prime candidate for this insidious disease. He recalls, “Feeling the excess flesh on my middle, I thought about the many times that my stomach would feel pinched whenever I bent over to tie up my shoelaces and how I needed to hold my breath in at work so that I didn’t pop the buttons or the zip on my trousers.”
Waist size is a key indicator for those at risk of developing diabetes. Men with a waist measuring more than 94 centimetres and women with a waist over 80 centimetres have a greater risk of diabetes.
Armed with this information and inspired by The Biggest Loser Couples, Renato and his partner Cathy took action. Says Renato, “We thought if these guys [on the show], who were battling weight problems that were much greater than ours, could commit to working off the excess kilos, then there was absolutely no reason we couldn’t do the same. Cathy and I agreed to get off our behinds, get moving, get healthy and start living.”
Click to enlarge photos
Renato before
Renato after
Renato before
Renato after
Renato after
Portion size surprise
Renato and Cathy had both gained a lot of weight over the 18 months they had been together. After joining The Club and monitoring their calorie intake via the online diary, they quickly realised their primary problem was portion control – they were simply eating too much.
Renato explains, “I tended to eat the same, pretty healthy foods as before, but instead of four bangers with mash and vegetables, I switched to two. Instead of eating three eggs, I would go for two. As for drinks, I was amazed at how many calories there were in the ten or so coffees I was drinking daily. The accountant in me loves to analyse things so I entered the ten coffees made with whole milk and two sugars into a spreadsheet and then calculated the calories daily, weekly and annually. Seeing just how much time I would need to put on the treadmill to work off all those coffees, I realised I just didn’t have that much time to spare. Now I drink fewer coffees, they are black and I only have one sugar.”
I love the new me
Renato weighed 96kg when he started his weight-loss journey. He’s dropped 21kg and now steps on the scales at 75kg. He’s reached his goal weight and feels fantastic, “I’m so much healthier, happier and full of life now. I bounce out of bed and no longer feel sluggish and constantly tired. My fitness is back to where it was 10 years ago and after getting a taste for regular exercise again, I miss the days when I don’t work out.”
For her part, Cathy has lost 17kg and has six kilos to go. Renato says she has been incredibly supportive and it’s been very important for them to make their healthy lifestyle changes together.
While the diabetes health scare was the greatest motivator for Renato to lose weight in the first place, it’s the little milestones along the way that kept him going. “It was things like being able to fit into jeans that I hadn’t worn for 12 months that spurred me on, plus being able to run without my stomach bouncing up and down.”
Renato’s diet has changed for good, and while he now prefers a crunchy salad to a bucket of chips, he doesn’t go without, believing the old cliché about everything in moderation. “Don’t get me wrong, I still love chips, but I have them so infrequently that they’re a treat and not a staple any more. I still enjoy chocolate and alcohol, but I don’t miss them if I don’t have them.
“My clothes fall off me now and I love looking at myself in the mirror. I’m proud of my achievement, how I look and how I feel. It’s been about 20 years in the making, but it’s worth the wait (pardon the pun!).”