Kevin's story

Tell us about your progress. How long did it take to lose the weight?

When I started my lifestyle change in January 2025, I was 95kg. At the moment, I am 74.3kg, which is my goal weight, and it has taken me 17 months.

Was there something that prompted your decision to lose weight?

In 2024, I developed chest pains, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and had a spell of anxiety, which I was being treated for. After a year of worrying about pains and numerous visits to A&E, I was told that I had arthritis in my neck and I was advised to exercise. However, I struggled due to my weight and being out of breath, as well as finding it difficult to leave the house because the anxiety made me feel sick. Over the 2024 Christmas period, a friend advised me to stop taking the anxiety tablets, and a work colleague told me that to lose weight healthily, you need to increase protein and reduce carbs. It was in January 2025 that I decided to give it a go. I stopped taking the anxiety tablets and searched for protein-rich foods and other nutrients and it was at this point that I came across the Nutracheck app and, as they say, the rest is history.

Have you experienced any health improvements?

Health improvements have been substantial, apart from the weight loss, my blood pressure and cholesterol levels have both reduced. I feel much better that I can now walk 4 to 6 miles a day and have taken up playing golf.

How easy was it to fit the changes you made into your lifestyle?

I found it very easy, and by changing my diet and eating the right foods, this gave me more energy, so I didn’t feel as tired. I love cooking, so making my own dinners using fresh ingredients and no processed food was a bonus. Greek yogurt and chicken were my go-to products, and I developed menus on how to incorporate these.

What was the most challenging aspect of your weight loss journey, and how did you overcome this?

The most challenging part was looking at where I wanted to get to, i.e. 95kg to 74kg, something I had not achieved in 40-plus years and how I was going to keep it up for good rather than thinking of it as a quick-fix diet. I did this by forgetting about it and breaking it down into small chunks. For instance, if I reduced my weight from 95kg to 94.8kg, that was excellent. Yes, I had snack days, pub trips and meals out, but always got back on track and tried to pick things that were at least protein-based – chicken became my new best friend.

How do you feel since losing the weight, compared to before?

Since losing the weight, I have felt more lively, I can walk faster, enjoy my home-cooked food and just feel more energised.

Do you have any non-scale victories you would like to share?

My non-scale victories are feeling more energised, learning how to cook, finding out that Greek yogurt can replace cream, and my favourite cooked breakfast of scrambled eggs, mushrooms in olive oil, and baked beans can replace the fried alternative.

How did you feel the app supported you - were there any specific features you found helpful?

The Nutracheck app helped me a great deal, working out the nutrients, the large UK database of foods and creating my own dinners. I also linked my Apple Health so I could log my walks, see how many more carbs and protein I have left, and see if I have saved up enough for a small square of dark chocolate or a glass of wine in the evening.

What does weight maintenance look like for you now?

Now that I have reached my goal of 74kg, I will move into maintenance and continue the progress of maintaining my weight. Now that I have more energy, I intend to increase my exercise to include walking an average of 4 miles daily and playing more golf.

What advice would you give to anyone who has weight to lose?

My advice to anyone is not to treat it as a weight loss programme, but a lifestyle change, and not to think about your overall goal, but break it down into manageable chunks over a long period. It is not a short-term plan but a lifetime change. Make sure some exercise is part of your daily routine, no matter how small this might be. Hopefully, when you have reached your goal, you can do what I have done – go shopping for a whole new wardrobe of clothes!