Anthony's Story

My name is Anthony Verna and I am writing to share about my weight loss journey that started for me on Australia Day, 26 January 2008.

For those carrying a few extra kilos, I can absolutely guarantee that my life, my general well being, and my state of mind have improved in so many enjoyable and unimaginable ways that you simply have to give it a go.

Watching the reality shows on TV, I am able to relate to the youth-like exuberance displayed at the finales. The feeling of leaving behind your old self is one of the most liberating, satisfying, and most enjoyable sensations that one could ever experience.

In terms of the benefits, the latter part of the journey has been the easiest thing that I have ever done in my life. 

But first, the hard part...the part I would have skipped if I knew then what I know now. 

Until Australia Day 2008, there had been a number of false starts over the years, including the purchase of an exercise bike, bicycle, and other sporting equipment.

Despite the best of intentions, each of these endeavours ended much the same way. The initial fire of enthusiasm burned bright for a short while until doused by a cold, a sleep in after a late night, or "work" commitments.

I am not sure why, how or even when in my life it happened. For most of my life I had considered myself to be overweight to varying degrees, but looking back at photos I can't put my finger on any specific reason or time that my weight had ballooned out to the extent it eventually did.

My standard "justification" was along the lines that I have an "office based job", and that juggling work and home commitments with 3 kids left no time for exercise. I did always qualify this by saying that I would get into it when "things settled down".

I believe that my worst recorded weight was 143kg. There are probably times when I was heavier, although I had always conveniently managed to avoid the scales at the time so I'll never really know how heavy I was.

Now, having turned 40 in recent months, I am into the 80's and have lost over 50kg which equates to more than 60% of my current body weight.

The belt that I used to wear "uncomfortably" to keep my trousers up measured my waist at 135cm. These days, my belt is a more comfortable 90cm, with plenty of room, but no real need, to pull it tighter.

Apart from my beautiful wife and family, other people have either challenged, inspired, motivated or more importantly taught and guided me during the course of my journey.

The main inspiration and catalyst came from reading "Don't Die with the Music in you" by legendary NRL Coach, Wayne Bennett.

Wayne's underlying and powerful messages of Be the Best that you can be, and the importance of self discipline, not cutting corners and not pulling up short were messages that I identified with and applied in my day-to-day life. 

As long as you can be the best that you can be, you are being true to yourself and true to your loved ones, and never need to wonder what might have been.

Where I initially fell short was that upon reading about the athletes and their grand achievements, I applied a qualifier to Wayne's message; "in your chosen field". Whilst I was not an NRL Footballer or athlete, I was a reasonably accomplished Project Manager and was being the best that I could be on a professional front and "in my chosen field".

By adding this qualifier, surely if the likes of Wayne Bennett were to measure my own life, they would overlook my obesity and the fact that I was never much of a sportsman, and would approve of my achievements academically and in my professional career. Surely...

I held on to this belief for a number of years, but deep down, I knew that my weight was a problem. There was always an element of doubt that if measured by a man such as Wayne Bennett, that I would most likely be disappointed by his assessment.

My GP, Dr Colin Kratzing, was the last in the string of many in the medical profession who recommended that I was carrying too much weight, told me that I needed to lose weight, or in one case very kindly and warmly suggested that "there was a little too much of me to love!"

I had already been diagnosed as a sufferer of sleep apnoea, was taking daily medication for reflux and indigestion, and was susceptible to colds and bugs. All these ailments being due to my 140+ kg, not to mention the fact that I was always tired, particularly in the afternoon and evening, and had precious little energy left at the end of the day or on weekends to enjoy my family and my kids.

Worse still, I knew I was well on track of developing diabetes, suffering from high cholesterol, and a life time of medication to treat the side effects of one common cause; obesity.

In late December 2007, I made an appointment with my GP because I was suffering from flu like symptoms and as it happened, I had brought my children along with me to the appointment.

I had become accustomed to hearing that I was carrying too much weight, and provided my standard response; that I spent each working day tied to a desk and just didn't have time to exercise with everything else going on.

He took a glance at the kids and offered that the kids were in no way obese so we couldn't be doing too badly nutrition wise, perhaps squeezing in a bit of exercise may help?

Armed with that practical piece of advice and some minor adjustments to my morning and evening routines, I "found my 30", as the saying goes, first up in the morning and started my journey on Australia Day 2008. 

I dusted off the exercise bike purchased on one of the earlier weight loss attempts and over the first 3 months, I had managed to lose in the order of 10kg. My general fitness had improved and I had started to see some improvement where it really counted, around my belt.

I viewed these early months as preparation for the pathology tests that I would probably need to take as I approached 40 years of age in a relatively unhealthy state of obesity.

At the start of my journey I was convinced that all I had to do to lose a few kg's would be to exercise each day, and that I wouldn't need to alter my diet in any way.

Surely if I wasn't getting too much bigger doing nothing, then any little bit of exercise would help. 

In actual fact, the weight loss slowed after 3 months or so, but my fitness continued to improve so I kept up the exercise until about August, at which time I thought that any pathology tests would return favourable results.

As expected, the tests confirmed that I was at risk of diabetes and high cholesterol, with a follow up test suggested for January or February 2009.

Good news though; I had already embarked on my exercise plan, and was well on my way to improvement. Or so I thought. 

Following the initial improvement, and despite exercising fairly consistently over 5-7 days per week, I registered very little further weight loss on the scales.

At the time, I recall thinking that 30 minutes may not have been enough, so I extended the routine to include a further 15 minutes.

For 45 mins each morning, I pedalled as hard as I could on the exercise bike hoping that this would return some results on the scales. Harder and Harder I pushed - same result.

My fitness continued to improve but the scales didn't show much movement outside the 133-135 range. 

In January I returned for the follow up pathology tests hoping that despite the scales, I should now be seeing an improvement in my health.

This was not to be! The results showed very little improvement despite my time and best efforts. 

I had been exercising regularly for almost a full year at a reasonably high level of intensity, with relatively little to show for it.

My wife and I paid a return visit to our GP, and following the old adage, if you keep doing what you've always done, you keep getting what you've always got, I asked for some advice as to what I could do differently.

The Doctor suggested that a dietitian may help and provided a referral to Desi Carlos at Tree of Life Nutrition.

My first appointment with Desi was on the 25 February 2009, and since then I have literally not looked back. 

Within the first week I lost 6kg which was more than half of my total weight loss from 12 months of exercise. 

In that week, my abdomen measurement fell over 6cm from 133.54 to 127.15cm and it became quickly apparent that exercise alone is not sufficient as a weight management strategy.

In the short months that followed, the 6XL shirts were cast aside in favour of L's and trousers that I outgrew over years from 102 to 148 on the way up were thrown away in favour of 92's.

There was even a time I questioned the kids as to who had been playing with my helmet and made the headband so big. This was until I realized that as well as losing cm's from around my waist, I was even losing cm's from around my scalp.

Even the band on the watch that I received as a gift on my 21st birthday is now worn 1 hole shorter - my wrist circumference in now about 8mm smaller than when I was 21 and I am no doubt fitter and slimmer now than the whole of my adult life.

I am now no longer constantly tired, I am more alert and generally happier and more content on all fronts. 

The secret? There is no real secret and no magic formula. 

Desi reviewed my eating habits at the time, my preferences, and history and tailored a meal plan that suited my body. 

I have simply stuck to the plan to the point that it has now become a way of life. 

When I started I likened the journey to learning to drive a car. Having to think about depressing the clutch pedal, changing gear or indicating on the approach to a corner. With experience, these activities become automatic, as did the choices I made at meal times.

My Tree of Life Exercise Physiologist set a simple exercise plan based around my exercise bike and other inexpensive equipment, with no need for gym memberships and no significant outlay.

If anything, I was exercising with less intensity and more controlled exertion than my do-it-yourself plan. 

Coupled with the meal plan, I was simply burning the stored fat in my body far more efficiently than ever. 

People ask, surely you have lost enough weight? Surely you don't need to lose anymore?

The truth is, I am not doing anything specific to force the weight down, or depriving my body in any way to lose weight. I simply continue to follow a plan that whilst tweaked from time to time, really has become a healthier way of life.

I don't miss whatever it was that I was doing before. 

I still enjoy my food, but I do eat, and more importantly, am satisfied with smaller portions. You don't need to have large amounts to enjoy the flavours.

Apart from the healthier body and lifestyle, I have also gained a better understanding of my body's needs, and a general education on portion sizes, when to eat, and what to and what not to eat.

The best advice that I can give to anyone seeking to lose weight is, visit your GP and ask for a referral to see a reputable dietitian. 

Exercise is a critical component of overall fitness, health and general well being. These days the time that I set aside for myself is so important to me, and the fact that I had been exercising regularly most probably resulted in the 6kg and 6cm loss in my first week. 

I cannot thank Desi and the Tree of Life  enough team for the guidance and education that they have provided, and the overall improvements that I have enjoyed and really need to be experienced to be believed.