Greater Manchester dad 'too big for plane seat' loses nearly 4 stone in 9 months
The lifestyle changes came thanks to Simple, the AI coaching app for adults.
A father-of-two has 'completely changed his life' by making a series of 'tweaks' to his daily routines - and he's lost nearly four stone in just nine months. Mark Brockbank, a 52-year-old who lives in Stockport and works in IT, said he knew he needed to change his life when he was invited to a close friend's wedding and feared he would be too large for the plane seat.
But instead of embarking on a restrictive diet and focusing purely on calorie-counting, Mark turned to the Simple app, an AI coaching app for adults, which guided him through a series of minor, incremental adjustments. Over roughly nine months, starting from 2024, this approach helped him shed nearly four stone (23.5kg), making a 'massive difference to (his) life' - and he has since flown multiple times.
Talking about what motivated him to start with Simple, which currently has a discount code of REACH60 to save 60%, he said: "What motivated me to start using the Simple app was a general need to improve my health, which included reducing my weight. Good friends had just started to pull me on one side for a chat and, rightly so, and I've thanked almost every one of them since."
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He added: "And one of the things that particularly motivated me was, one very good friend invited me to their wedding, which is overseas next year (in 2025). And at the time, I hadn't flown for a long time, probably around about 10, 12, maybe even 14 years.
"I'd just assumed in recent years that I was too big, I wouldn't fit in a plane seat, and therefore I didn't bother with overseas holidays. I was constantly holidaying in England and the UK in general. But I thought, no, this is something that I can have a go at."
There is a discount code available currently with code REACH60
Mark said the app has transformed several aspects in his life - and more importantly, it is 'sustainable'. He said he now incorporates more nutrition into his diet, while still enjoying 'treats' like burgers; his fitness has improved and he is no longer 'breathless' from walking up stairs; he is back to playing cricket and enjoys going swimming; and he has more options for his clothing.
He said: "(My) increased mobility has got me out more, got me walking more, got me moving more. It’s increased my wardrobe as well, I’ve got a choice of trousers and clothes and I’m just generally less self-conscious of some things I wear."
Moreover, although he said this was a 'daft' benefit, he said he can now walk through the turnstiles at football matches. He added: "Now, the kind of level of football I watch, the turnstiles range from waist level ones to full height ones. I'm proud to say that I've got through every one of them this season, so that's another little goal."
Mark attributes his healthy weight loss to the diet advice and information from the Simple app. By losing weight at a steady rate, he said he has been able to stick with his goals and it hasn't felt restrictive.
He has been able to get access to personalised daily workouts, science-backed coaching, nutrition analysis and the AI coach called Avo - something he describes as his 'extra friend', which gives him encouragement, helpful feedback and useful information.
Boasting more than 17 million downloads and around six million users per month to its web funnels, the experience for Simple subscribers starts with a questionnaire covering fitness goals, preferences, previous slimming attempts and other contributing factors. The app has a variety of tools, including straightforward food logging, exercise advice and an intermittent fasting monitor.
Its NutriScanner feature has been designed to help users understand their meal nutrition, both at home or out. Moreover, Avo serves as its AI-powered in-app coach and personal wellness companion, which Mark is a big fan of.
Simple joins other apps like Noom, a weight loss platform which emphasises mindful eating over strict diets, and MyFitnessPal, which is a calorie tracker and BMI calculator designed to assist people in meeting their goals and tracking their nutritional intake, with some sections available for free on the app. Mark in particular praised Simple for being easy to use and making his goals 'achievable'.
Although he still wants to lose more weight, with his goal being eight or nine stone to lose in total, he is 'about halfway' and feels a 'huge' sense of achievement for his progress so far. He even spoke about how his weight loss has transformed his family's life, too.
He said: "Thanks, Simple, you’ve probably made a massive difference to my life and my family's life. It might sound a little emotional, but I've got a 19-year-old son, I've got a 14-year-old son, and there was a time maybe a year or so ago when maybe I didn't realise that I probably wasn't going to see enough of their life that I want to, and now I feel I'm on the right track seeing a lot of their life."
Reviews for the Simple app on Trustpilot are positive, with an average 4.3 out of five star rating given, from more than 33,000 reviews. One person wrote: "I love the Simple Life App! It’s incredibly motivating and helps me stay on track with my new healthy habits. I can easily log what I eat, drink, and do throughout the day, which keeps me mindful and honest with myself."
Someone else said: "Great website so helpful, love the check-in each morning and giving encouragement right throughout the day. Never found it easier to lose weight." While a third wrote: "Really helps keep you motivated to meet goals!"
One person left feedback, saying: "I am enjoying the experience of being promoted when to do certain things. I am still learning about the program and how it works. Timing seems a little off but I deal with it." While another wrote: "I know it’s been a month since I started on the app, but I’m still uncertain about some things. But it’s been amazing experience and so thoughtful! I’ve enjoyed every minute of it! Thank you so much."
This is not medical advice. This is a personal experience. Results may vary. Please consult your healthcare professional for any medical conditions.
More about the Simple app can be found here.