Together, Clare & Adrian lost 40 kg in 12 weeks

Clare lived in fear that her partner Adrian’s weight would lead to a stroke or a heart attack. They had both gained weight after the COVID lockdowns but thankfully, they managed to turn it around and lost a whopping 40kg (6.4st) between them in just 12 weeks on The Fast 800 Programme. Read their full story to see how they transformed their bodies and their lives.

59 year-old Speech Pathologist, Clare, had always been vigilant with managing her weight, ensuring to include exercise into her routine. However, following COVID lockdowns, Clare and her husband, 62 year-old Engineering Manager, Adrian, began to put on weight. Combined with Clare’s body changing as a result of menopause, she struggled to shed the pounds she gained and was feeling unhappy, lethargic and frustrated.

Her main concern, however, was for Adrian. He was 30 kg overweight and she was worried that if he continued on that path, he’d have a heart attack or stroke. It was time to make a change.

Clare had tried several diets over the years, gravitating towards ones that were educational in the hope they would be more sustainable. Her search finally led her to The Fast 800, which helped educate her on food, lifestyle, and evidence-based research into health. Clare approached Adrian, knowing that weight loss can be more motivating with support, and he was on board to embark on the journey together!

Clare and Adrian’s journey with The Fast 800

Adrian read the articles on the programme religiously every morning on the app, and almost immediately saw incredible results. Having started the programme at 116 kg, it took just one week for him to shed 8kg. 

Clare lost weight slowly and steadily over the 12 week programme, and began to notice real changes in her clothes after just three weeks. For Adrian, his looks completely changed: over the course of the programme, he said goodbye to 30 kg of excess weight, becoming unrecognisable.

Both were pleasantly surprised with how manageable the programme was, and particularly pleased at how satisfied they felt even on 800 calories per day as a result of their new Mediterranean-style diet. They found what worked for them which was key, including a habit of reaching for celery if they began to feel hungry between meals and opting for Time-Restricted Eating (TRE) to easily get back on track.

Delving into daily diets

The couple’s pre-programme daily diet looked a little like this: 

• Breakfast: Sugary cereals, large servings of porridge, low fat strawberry yogurt (without realising how much sugar they contained), toast, bacon and eggs.
• Lunch: Carb-loaded sandwiches or takeaway food if working at the office.
• Dinner: Pasta like lasagne or spaghetti, Indian or Thai food with rice.

Now that they have learned about diet through the programme, the couple’s daily diets have been transformed. They now enjoy a typical day of: 

• Breakfast: The Fast 800 Shakes, or alternatively healthy breakfast muffins like these. 
• Lunch: Salads with warm cooked veggies on top.
• Dinner: Dishes like The Fast 800 Pesto Baked Fish and Beef Tacos. Local Mediterranean-style restaurants, or Thai or Indian takeaway with extra veggies as the side instead of rice or naan.

Having decided not to give up anything in their diet completely, they now make educated decisions, choosing wholefoods they enjoy, and avoiding ultra-processed foods or excess gluten as they found it wasn’t making them feel good.

Where are they now?

It’s safe to say the couple have turned their lives around. Clare is now an impressive 10kg down and Adrian has shed an incredible 30kg overall. They continue to cook and learn together, exercising daily and are still each other’s biggest supporters. Choosing restaurants that are in line with their new health priorities ensures they still enjoy date nights, but now with a Mediterranean-diet focus.

As well as the weight off her body, Clare felt a real weight off her mind. The couple are now more confident, energetic, positive, and reassured that they can continue married life with excitement for the future rather than in fear of any health issues that may have arisen if they hadn’t given The Fast 800 Programme a go.

Top questions for Clare and Adrian

What’s your advice to those wanting to make a change?

“We started The Very Fast 800 programme initially. We were surprised that we were not that hungry. We learned quickly that a spoonful of yoghurt or a handful of nuts was enough to get us to the next meal which reduced our snacking habits. We have also found foods in grocery stores that suit our new lifestyle and food groups. So now that we know what to eat, it is really easy. Having the support of others is [also] so important. So tell everyone what you are doing and reach out to the community. Best of all, find someone to do it with you if you can.”

What do you think are the key reasons you found such success?

Adrian: “Doing it together was key for us. It was a full lifestyle change for us, so if one person wasn’t on board it wouldn’t have worked. I am so glad Clare has taken me on this journey, I wouldn’t have done this by myself. Our family is on board too… It’s been great having so many supportive people in our lives.”

Clare: “It was a complete mindset shift and a completely different approach. Every other diet I have done before for example encourages low-fat, how wrong were we! Another element that is great for us, is we work together on all of the food and meal prep. We plan our meals together, I put the dish together and cook it, Adrian cuts it all up. I clean the dishes, he drys them. It truly is a partnership.”

Were there any other health benefits aside from the weight loss?

Clare: “Mental health has been a significant improvement for me. We both feel more confident, have more energy and a much more positive attitude towards food and food choices. We feel that we can plan on a healthy and happy retirement in the next few years. I go to sleep much more easily and have better quality sleep. We also have a more positive relationship towards food and food choices. I was frustrated with skin breakouts prior and now have much more stable skin which also improves my confidence.”

We wish Clare and Adrian a long, happy and healthy life together. If you want to achieve results like they did, sign up to your 7-day free trial of our Programme here.