Weight loss in a cup

Blinking again, I couldn’t believe my eyes. My cousin Gino had popped over for a chat and looked like a different person. “You’ve lost so much weight,” I gasped. “What did you do?”

          At 130kg and a size 24, I was desperate to shift some kilos. Over the years I’d tried many diets, from kilo joule controlled meals, to protein-enriched shakes, as well as weighing foods individually.

          But I’d never stuck with them for more than a few weeks before I’d go back to my old ways of stuffing my face with hot chips followed by a huge portion of chocolate ice-cream. I just got bored with strict diets and wasn’t dedicated enough to follow them.

          I did want to lose weight however and, as time passed, I knew that my size was affecting almost every aspect of my life. I barely saw my mates now and spent my time hiding away at home too embarrassed to venture out socially.

          “Believe it or not, I lost weight through coffee,” Gino laughed, telling me he’d been using a new organic green coffee slimming product. “It helps turn stored fat into energy,” he said. “I’ve lost eight kilos so far – you should try it.”

          I was curious but a bit skeptical so, later that day, I sat down at my computer to check out green coffee slimming products on the internet. I read that you drank the coffee half an hour before breakfast.

          That didn’t sound too hard and I certainly enjoyed coffee, so I ordered some of the sachets. “This could be the kick start I need to finally lose weight,” I told my brother Michael, 24. Knowing how unhappy I’d been with my weight, and after seeing Gino’s results, he thought it was great idea.

          The following week, in October 2008, my starter pack arrived and I put the kettle on straightaway. The drink tasted fine and for the first week I simply replaced my normal morning coffee with the green coffee and made sure I drank the recommended two liters of water a day. “Wow!” I cried, hopping on the scales at the end of the week. I was delighted to find I’d lost 3.5kg already.

          As the weeks passed, I continued with the program and I soon found I had more energy, so I started walking in the afternoons. My weight kept dropping and, feeling inspired, I swapped chips for healthier options like jacket potatoes and salads.

          The website I’d found had a recommended meal plan and, not really knowing too much about the right food choices, I started to follow that too. I’d have cereal or toast for breakfast, a sandwich or salad for lunch and lean meat dinner with lots of fresh vegetables.

          “You can really see the difference,” Michael said a few weeks later. “Do you think I should try it too?” At 112kg, he knew he needed to lose weight as much as I did. As a truck driver Michael spent most of his days sitting in his cab and every year he got fatter.

          “We can help each other out,” I said, keen to encourage him. I felt great having Michael’s support. We had always been the biggest kids at school and just got used to our size as we got older, however that was changing fast.

          Still living at home, we made an extra effort to cook healthy meals, mainly sticking to the suggestions from the website. I still loved chocolate though, and made sure I included it in my meal plan. Instead of having a family sized bar, I’d just have a little square to curb my cravings, or just a tiny scoop of ice-cream.

          As I got ready for a night out with my friends in December, I felt great. Pinning up my hair I applied my make-up and, for the first time in years, I really liked the way I looked before I left the house.

          “You’re so different!” cried my mate Teresa as we chatted at the bar. “And much more confident too,” nodded another friend, Sarah. Beaming, I hit the dance floor and didn’t think twice about shaking my body to the beat. I had the best night and knew it was just the beginning of my new life. The following day, I got up early and power walked for a full hour.

          Before I started my diet I hated exercise, ashamed of the way my body wobbled. But as my weight dropped off me, my energy levels soared. I started walking more and more, enjoying every minute.

          By mid-December my clothes were hanging off me. Needing something to wear, I dug deep into the bottom of my wardrobe and found a pair of size 18 jeans I hadn’t worn for five years because they were too tight. To my surprise they slid on and were even a little baggy on me. “I’m a size 18!” I gasped.

          Michael was changing too. Six weeks into his weight loss regimen, he’d transformed before my eyes. As his body changed shape, his chubby cheeks disappeared, leaving a handsome man behind. “I’m so proud of you,” I told him.

          Friends and family were all shocked by our dramatic weight-loss in such a short space of time. In three months, I’d lost 25kg, while Michael had dropped 22kg in six weeks.

          Five months on, I’m now a size 14. I’m still doing the green coffee diet, but I only take half a sachet in the mornings instead of a full one. My goal is to fit into a size 12and I know with time it will happen. This time I’m sticking to it.