How Terry lost over 50% of his body weight
Weighing in at 185 kg when he joined the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, Terry's weight loss journey has been nothing short of incredible.
Terry knew for years he had to lose weight, but it wasn't until 2018 that he decided enough was enough. He joined the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet and in two years shed 100 kg*.
*Individual results may vary.
Weighing him down
At his heaviest, Terry's physical size presented many limitations on his day-to-day life. Walking small distances resulted in being out of breath, he was constantly worried about breaking chairs, he avoided photos and he suffered with joint pain and high blood pressure. Worst of all he developed pre-diabetes.
"I ballooned from 90 kg in 2002 up to 185.5 kg in June 2018," he explained. "I suffered from postnatal depression after the birth of my first son, which I now realise was probably what triggered me switching off and not caring about my health."
"I wasn't exercising and I was eating poorly but I was sick of my overall decline in health and decided that I wanted to live longer and be happier. I had to take back control of my life."
Terry started researching weight loss online and discovered the benefits of high protein and low GI diets, which led him to the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet.
"I found the program was different to others. It was easy to follow and the food unit system really works for me as I can create my own meals from the recommended unit quantities and balance my protein across the day – so I always feel in control."
Slow and steady
Using the online program, Terry started steadily losing a kilo a week. After six months of diligent work and a loss of over 20 kg, Terry decided to step up his weight loss effort, adding in exercise and a weekly session with one of our Accredited Practicing Dietitians.
"The dietitian mentoring is invaluable for me. My dietitian, Pennie, has helped me truly understand how to take control of my life in so many ways, including the meal plans, mental health and motivational techniques."
Not only has Terry's mental health improved dramatically since joining the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, but the physical health benefits have been huge. He is no longer pre-diabetic, his blood pressure is normal and his joint pain is gone.
"Since starting on the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, I have lost 100 kg, which is over 50 percent of my body weight. I feel in control and I have more energy and motivation."
"Joining the program probably saved my life – it certainly gave me my life back."
Looking for weight loss motivation, dinner inspiration or exercise ideas? Check out the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet blog or read more incredible success stories.
Non-scale victories
It isn't just the numbers on the scale that keeps Terry going. For him, the non-scale victories are just as important.
"There are so many things I can do easily now that I simply couldn't before. I can walk further than 100 metres without feeling exhausted. I can put on shoes without losing my breath. I can sit on a chair without fear of breaking it. I can exercise with my kids. I can catch a plane without needing a seatbelt extension. Clothes actually fit and I can feel happy and proud to be in photos."
"One of my non-scale victories was to take my family to Dreamworld, which we simply never thought would be a possibility. So it was really special to be able to share that moment with my sons."
Terry's climb to success
In June 2022, Terry is celebrating a huge milestone: he'll have maintained his 100 kg weight loss for two years!
To celebrate this milestone, Terry achieved something he would never have thought possible four years ago – he climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge!
Terry's tips for success
One of Terry's biggest goals is to inspire others with his story. He wants people to understand they can have success, no matter what size they start. It all comes down to getting started and staying the course.
Here are his tips for success after 24 months on the program:
- Understand that non-scale victories are just as important as weight loss.
- Realise that you will not lose weight every week.
- Understand that you are not defined by the number on the scales.
- Weigh and track everything you eat and drink.
- Take weekly measurements and photos for comparison.
- Convert your weight loss to a visual. 500 grams is a tub of butter, for example, or 20 kilograms is a big bag of pool salt.
- Make time. Understand and accept that if you don't make time to prepare meals or make time for exercise, you will not have the success that you desire on your journey to health and fitness.
Are you trying to lose weight? Read our comprehensive guide on weight loss to understand where to begin, what happens when you lose weight, and what doesn't work when it comes to dieting.
