How the Thetford Health Trainer Service, and a food diary, helped John to lose weight

04 January 2012

Businessman John Buckley had tried diets before, but suffered hunger pangs. Any weight that he lost while he was on a diet, he put back on when he stopped it.

But his lifestyle changed for the better - and resulted in permanent weight loss - when he began working with the Thetford Health Trainer Service in January 2011.

John, who lives in Thetford, needed to lose weight but found it difficult to incorporate more exercise into his hectic life as a salesman. So he decided to improve his diet instead.

Thetford health trainer Cheryll McKay recommended that he keep a food diary. She then suggested subtle but effective changes to his diet - making sure he ate three meals a day, and included more fruit in his diet too.

"The first two weeks I lost half a stone in weight, and then I lost a couple of pounds each month," he said.

"When you usually follow a diet you tend to suffer a bit, but I didn't really have any hunger pangs."

John's food diary kept him motivated. By setting goals he was able to stop eating crisps and cakes. He also increased the amount of water that he drinks, and swapped from eating white bread to eating wholemeal bread. He noticed that his digestion improved as a result.

John, 52, weighed 17 stone when he started working with the Thetford Health Trainer Service. He is now 15 stone and feels much better.

"I don't feel quite so out of breath," he said.

"My main problem was walking up stairs and that has improved. I'm hoping it will improve more as I lose more weight."

John still hopes to include more exercise in his life. In the meantime he has been impressed with the healthy eating advice he has received from the Thetford Health Trainer Service, and would recommend the service to others.

"It has been a lifestyle change for me," he said.

"You don't feel like you are on a diet. You are eating more fruit and more good food. That benefits your health.

"I would advise anyone else not to leave it too late. I think 50 is the age to make a change if you need to."

Cheryll is one of a team of health trainers who have been recruited from communities in Thetford, King's Lynn, Norwich and north Norfolk.

They work one-to-one with clients, supporting them to make the lifestyle changes they want. Some people want to quit smoking, some want to lose weight, and others may want to change their exercise and diet to give themselves a new lease of life.

Anyone who wants to follow John's example can call the Thetford Health Trainers on 01842 757341. People living in Norwich can call 01603 638064, in King's Lynn 01553 782629, and in north Norfolk 01263 516310.

In Great Yarmouth and Waveney, please call Community Connections on 01493 656372 or email healthtrainers@communityconnections.org.uk
There is more information at www.norfolk.nhs.uk (then click on "Your Services").