Nathan: Hi, I’m Nathan from the DVCC and I am here with Karen this evening. I am just going to ask Karen a few questions to hopefully get an insight into how she’s got such great results, ask about any difficulties that she might have experienced, as I am sure there are thousands of people who will listen to this and find it very interesting and very beneficial to listen to. So Karen, please introduce yourself and how long have you been at the DVCC?
Karen: Hi, I’m Karen and I’ve been at the DVCC about 8 weeks.
Nathan: Awesome – and what results have you achieved in that time, Karen?
Karen: In that time I have *lost 10lbs of body fat and equally I have dropped a dress size.
Nathan: Which is awesome, very well done. What were your struggles, if you had any, with weight *loss before the DVCC?
Karen: I think the biggest thing was that I was a member of a gym, I had a personal trainer, not that I went that often but I had a personal trainer once a week, I went to the gym once a week; but actually I didn’t *lose any weight, it didn’t make any difference, despite spending all that money.
Nathan: How often were you training?
Karen: About twice a week; once with a trainer and once on my own.
Nathan: And how long was that for, if you don’t mind me asking?
Karen: I’ve probably been doing that for like 18 months, 2 years.
Nathan: Quite a long time. So that was how you were trying to *lose weight before; had you ever *lost weight using nutrition and exercise or had it always been one or the other? Did your personal trainer advise you on nutrition?
Karen: There wasn’t much advice on nutrition. I’ve never really been on a diet as such; I have always just cut down, just reduced things.
Nathan: Reduced the amount of food you were eating?
Karen: Yes, reduced the amount and reduced the amount I would have to drink as well.
Nathan: So in terms of diets, you’ve never done that, you just reduced the amount you were eating and stuff – and how did that go, did you find that you *lost weight doing that?
Karen: I used to, when I was a little bit younger; that’s all I needed to do, just cut down, stop drinking during the week, that kind of thing – and it would drop off. But as I got a bit older, that strategy wasn’t really very successful.
Nathan: Doesn’t work as well. What does your lifestyle look like now, compared to before the DVCC?
Karen: I think I am a lot fitter, and the way that I eat is a lot different; but it hasn’t been that difficult for me, I don’t think, to change my eating habits.
Nathan: Ok, so you had some good habits I think there beforehand, didn’t you?
Karen: I did, but they have changed, my eating habits have changed quite a bit.
Nathan: What specifically, if you could pick out anything that you have changed in the way you are eating?
Karen: I am not eating as much pasta and rice as I have done before, but it doesn’t bother me. I also don’t seem to have cravings for things, where like at work there’ll always be cakes and biscuits and in the past there is no way I would have not eaten a cake or biscuit. Since going on the metabolic damage solution programme, I don’t seem to crave those carbs any more.
Nathan: Ok, so you’ve kind of got through that as well, which is awesome. And how often would you say you train with the DVCC here at the moment?
Karen: I try and come in 4 times a week; I’m not always in 4 times a week.
Nathan: That’s right; which is a great amount of time, so you’ve increased your training as well. How else has the DVCC helped you in any other ways?
Karen: In terms of my training, it’s been convenient and easy for me to pop in here on my way home from work. And it’s short and sharp and fast – there isn’t… like you do seem to come in and go out really quickly so it’s not a great big time commitment. Having the weigh-in…
Nathan: Progress tracker...
Karen: Progress tracker as it’s officially called – it does keep you motivated, especially when you can see how much actual body fat you’re *losing, not just weight – it is actually body fat.
Nathan: Makes it more specific I suppose.
Karen: It does make it specific and I can definitely tell.
Nathan: You feel different and stuff.
Karen: And the nutritional advice has been useful as well.
Nathan: Awesome – do you have any specific tips, with nutrition or exercise, that you can share with anyone who’s listening who is currently trying to *lose weight at this point in time?
Karen: I would just say give it a go, because I wouldn’t sort of put myself as kind of a fit happy person, but it doesn’t matter – you can work at your own pace, there are lots of different people here who have different abilities and fit in. In terms of nutrition, it’s just if you live it and if you can stick with it for the first couple of weeks or so, it genuinely does become a change in habit.
Nathan: Which is awesome; it’s great to hear you’ve changed your habits. With you saying there’s different people of different abilities – obviously I’m aware of that – but obviously you wouldn’t have been aware of that when you came through the door. Is that something you were a bit nervous of?
Karen: Yes, yes – it could be. You never want to look like you’re the one with the lightest weights and things and that I wouldn’t be able to keep up; because I’m not that young and there are some younger people here, but it really doesn’t matter.
Nathan: Did you find really quickly that that wasn’t the case and it wasn’t a very judgmental place?
Karen: Yes, absolutely.
Nathan: Within the first session, would you say?
Karen: Yes, because the encouragement is there and you’re accepted for what you are and who you are, and the weights that you can handle.
Nathan: Any final words, Karen, before we finish?
Karen: Just thank you! I do genuinely feel great, you know the fact that I have dropped a dress size has made me feel so much better, I love it!
Nathan: That’s awesome, good, we enjoy having you here; I’m glad you enjoy it. Thank you very much for your time today, and if you have been listening to this interview I hope you have found it very helpful. Karen, I want to thank you for your time; this is Nathan from the DVCC in Milton Keynes; have a good day.
