Man 'transformed' after losing nearly four stone despite trying 'every fad diet'
Tom, 63, had tried every diet under the sun but nothing seemed to work
Weight loss can be a complex and exasperating journey for many. This was the case for 63-year-old Tom, who was intrigued by the concept of intermittent fasting after a colleague's impressive weight loss in 2022.
"He started to talk to me about the 16-8 plan," the production supervisor from Arizona, US said. "This is where you fast for 16 hours and have an eating window of eight hours a day." Initially, Tom dismissed the idea as ludicrous, questioning how anyone could go that long without food without feeling miserable.
However, driven by his desire to shed some pounds, Tom decided to delve into some online research. He stumbled upon the Simple app and was 'pretty impressed' with the resources they had available, which led him to take their initial online assessment.
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The Simple app is an AI coaching tool designed to provide personalised daily workouts, science-backed coaching and nutritional analysis, all aimed at helping individuals lose excess weight and feel healthier. The creators of Simple claim it is "reshaping the science behind weight loss, standing as an innovative alternative to the restrictive and ineffective diet industry".
Now, anyone interested in trying it can use the code REACH60 to save 60% on Simple Weight Loss Plans. Over the past three years, Tom has shed an impressive 55 pounds (25kg) using the Simple app.
If shoppers want to try the Simple app for themselves, it's currently 60 per cent off with code REACH60
"I tried every fad weight loss diet that came out, Atkins diet, shots, pills, whatever the latest fad was. A lot of them were fairly expensive, and mostly, I had very limited success. Every time the weight would come back on and I was right back where I started. This was a very frustrating cycle," he admits.
"My biggest hurdle in dieting is that I'm a carboholic. I grew up in the Midwest and every dinner included a dessert. There was always pies, cakes, cookies and ice cream so this was my big addiction and the toughest thing to break away from. That was likely the biggest factor in my gaining weight and not being able to lose weight."
Users of the Simple app begin by completing a comprehensive survey, and are then provided with tools such as food logging and an intermittent fasting tracker. The app also features a NutriScanner, which helps users understand meal nutrition, as well as daily workout plans and Avo, the in-app coach and personal wellness assistant powered by AI.
Tom utilised the 14-10 intermittent fasting plan with the Simple app. "The thing about Simple is it's not really a diet, it's fasting," he explains. "So it's not about what you eat or how much you eat, although that does come into play but it's more about the time that you spend eating. The best thing about the Simple App is just what the name applies - it's simple. There's no food exclusions, no portion weighing, no point tracking and no reading nutrition labels.
"The app feedback and the scale will let you know if you're making good choices or not and the app simply guides you along the way."
Tom didn't just see the numbers on the scales drop - he experienced significant improvements to his overall health as well. "Six months after starting with Simple, I had my six-month visit with my primary care. Of course, we did blood work and there were significant drops in pretty much everything - my cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure," he explains.
"At one time, I was considered pre diabetic, but now my A1C is down to 5.2. My doctor was pretty much amazed at the transformation, not just the weight loss, but in my blood work."
Tom also credits the Simple App with transforming his relationship with food. The 63-year-old says the app has given him a 'whole new lease of life'.
There are other weight loss guides out there, aside from Simple. There is the BodyFast App, which claims to calculate each person's "individual and optimal" fasting plan based on weekly goals. It has motivational challenges, daily coaching, and more than 100 recipes. There are some free features, listed online as being things like 10 different fasting plans, a weight tracker, a water tracker and reminder, and 'a handful' of free recipes. There is a subscription too, with prices online.
Elsewhere, the Hevy app is free and described online as being a "free weight lifting workout tracker". Users can log workouts, get performance analytics and engage with the community of other people also working out. It allows those using it to also do advanced routine planning and has automatic rest timers too. Adding exercise notes is another feature and users can also create custom exercises for their sessions.
Users of Simple have shared their opinions on Trustpilot, with one individual stating: "I love this app because it helps you stay accountable. It also helps that you can message your coach about anything! Whether it's a simple question or if you're looking for a healthy meal!".
Another user commented: "Very user-friendly. Keeps you track throughout the day." However, some expressed reservations, with one user noting: "App is confusing. Not user-friendly."
Another wrote: "Hard to navigate system - can't find how to access the screen to enter food and exercise." Another satisfied customer left a five-star review, saying: "It is a great program, nicely set-up. You can still eat good portions and still lose weight. Workouts are easy but work!"