In just under three months, sixty-something Will Brander lost more than 11kg and changed his whole outlook on health and wellbeing. We asked him the ‘what, where, and how’ of his story so you can be inspired by his journey!
Question: Will, what made you decide to something about your weight?
Will: “I decided that it was time to do something about my overall health, weight and fitness a few months ago so I went along to a local ‘Boot camp' exercise regime. But, at the age of 60 and having not jogged for many years, the program was just too intense. Late last year, I saw a TV advert for The Biggest Loser Club (I was already a fan of the TV series), so I went online to find out more.
“After wandering around the website and viewing the different features, like the diary, the resource section, etc, I decided to register for a three-month program. I weighed 89kg and really wanted to get back down to a weight of 84kg, a weight I had been happy with a few years earlier. After reading more about what would be a healthy weight for me, though, I changed my goal weight; in the end, I settled on 81kg as an ideal weight. And so, the journey began!”
Click to enlarge photos
Will before
Will after
Total weight loss
Weekly weight loss
Measurements
Question: Menu plans and planning are a big part of the program – how did you find these?
Will: “Into the first few days of the program, I was blown away by the size and flavours of the meals on offer. My wife, Georgie and I looked forward to shopping for the ingredients and tucking into the meals; we took turns cooking. Georgie has always been a believer in healthy eating and exercise and she was a great support; she encouraged me and enjoyed the menus, too.”
Question: Did the diary section work for you?
Will: “Luckily, I started the program a few days before I returned to work, so making regular entries into my daily diary was pretty easy and became a habit. By keeping my diary up to date, I quickly understood how important it was to be aware of the number of calories in various foods, the good effects of exercise (mainly brisk walking, gardening and golf), the importance of eating regularly throughout the day and more.”
Question: How is life for you now?
Will: “Since starting the program, I changed my goal weight again and now, I weigh 77.4kg and I feel great! I am proud of the way I look; my belly has flattened and my clothes look so much better on me. Many of my friends comment on how good and healthy I look. I have loads more energy, my high blood pressure has been dramatically reduced. And I’m told I snore a lot less – yahoo!”
Question: So, what’s your advice for fellow Club members?
Will: “I say timing is everything! You must be ready to make some changes in your life and then really commit to them. Support from family is so important, too; their encouragement is vital in helping you to stick to the plan, stay on the menus and be patient with the time it takes to lose the weight. I am very lucky that I only had a few kilos to lose, but I know there are so many men like me, who are a few kilos overweight and accept it as a part of growing older. That’s crazy; it isn’t! Always remember why you chose to go for a more healthy life and do what needs to be done to realise your goals.”
Question: Any final thoughts?
Will: “I didn’t realise how unhealthy I had become and The Biggest Loser Club has given me the tools I needed to regain my health and to know that eating healthy foods and exercising regularly doesn’t have to be a chore; it’s a way of life for me now, one that I truly enjoy so much more than my previous life. Thanks to The Club for its wonderful and profound support. Keep up the good work; The Biggest Loser Club will certainly affect the wellbeing of the Australian population in years to come!”