Healthy Eating Habits for Life Case Studies

BEFORE	AFTER
		Derrick's Results Weight: Derrick has lost 15.5kg (100.1kg down to 84.6kg) over 12 months Waist: 105cm down to 90cm over 12 months Derrick has also reduced his body fat by 12.6% and is feeling so much fitter since adopting regular exercise as part of his new, healthy lifestyle.

Derrick’s story

What motivated you to contact FNA?

“Like many people, with the year starting, I made a resolution that I needed to make a body and mindset change. I had let myself go over the past 2 years, snacking on KFC and drinking beer every Friday night PLUS the additional ‘one for the road’ kebab. Shortly after I was reading a motivational piece on training and health which suggested that if I wanted to succeed with my goal of weight management I needed to find experts in the field and learn as much as I could.  As long as I had a plan, a date for achieving my goals and people helping me to keep the momentum, success was assured.”

What were your perceptions about seeing a dietitian before you attended?  Did these change as a result of your experience at FNA?

“I always had people telling me that seeing a Dietitian was a waste of money, and stating “everyone knows what’s good for them and what’s bad for them, why pay someone to tell you?” I did come into my first meeting at FNA thinking I knew it all. What I realized however was that I knew very little!  A lot of my information was clouded by tabloid junk/misconceptions.  I therefore needed to keep an open mind, have trust and faith and go with the advice.”  

What were your key goals in attending?   

“I wanted to lose weight to get back into Martial Arts competition as soon as I reached my ideal weight.”

Had you tried any other approaches in the past and how did FNA’s approach differ for you/support you?

“I had tried many things in the past including:

• A very high protein diet – including egg whites and lots of chicken. Training friends used to suggest high protein and little carbs. I found it worked for a while, but would find my weight yo-yoing up and down
• Skipping dinner or eating lightly
• Protein shakes galore – 6 a day, along with meals

FNA differs as they offer simple advice, so simple you question it. Gone are the fads of fat burners and protein shakes.  I learnt that your body needs quality nutrients, so feed it right and it will treat you right.”

What do you particularly like about FNA’s services?

“Constant feedback, and sound advice each time I come in for a catch up.  It gives me time to review details and tweak areas which I need to improve.  Being accountable to someone, getting my weight checked and discussing progress helped a lot as well.”

How did you find the meal plan provided?

“Anyone who knows me would understand that my life can be defined as ‘one big meal’.  As such, I found sticking to the plan horrible to begin with. But slowly with time, I could feel my body craving for the nutrients, and then feeling it when I wasn’t sticking to it. I remember once when I was tucking into one of my old treats (a 2 piece feed at KFC) and the feeling and drop in energy levels after the meal. I still crave for this from time to time, and eat in moderation.  I now find the new Snack Boxes range at KFC is enough of a fix.

I’m still on the plan developed by my dietitian, and have worked hard to vary the style and types of meals so I keep things interesting and enjoyable.”

What were the key things you learnt that had an impact on you achieving your results?

• Exercise shouldn’t be a chore, you really need to enjoy it, sounds corny, but you need to find your ‘thing’ - whatever makes you happy and you’ll find you can’t get enough of it
• Read labels and understand what’s in food and what it does to you
• Ask your dietitian as many questions as you can, they really know their stuff
• Learn to eat out - the do’s and don’ts.   I’d kill myself if I had to eat chicken, salad and rice everyday, but variety is the spice of life, and you need to do that to be excited about your food!
• Listen to your body - when you’re hungry - eat, when you’re not - don’t eat
• Be consistent.  There is a famous Brazilian saying that says a rock can be broken by millions of water drops. So no matter how small your efforts, keep on going, as with time, it will happen
• Get excited and be happy!

Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience with the team at FNA?

“I’m still a few kilos from my final goal so will hammer at it, and not get complacent.  I’m the type of person who will tuck into a chocolate cake to congratulate myself. Knowing this I will be back there twice a year to assess goals and ask more questions. I’m very grateful for FNA’s assistance, and teaching me the right habits to maintain a healthy lifestyle that I will be able to hold for the rest of my life.”

Our services