Monday, December 13, 2010

Max's inspired and disciplined approach to weight loss

Max Hartree is living proof that the programs endorsed by Aaron Mounier and his team at Renouf Applecross actually work.

The 37-year-old business owner lost a massive 22.4 kilograms to become Renouf’s “biggest loser” after the most recent eight-week fat-loss challenge.

Hartree now tips the scales at 103.2 kilograms and he has reduced his shirt size from 5XL to XL. Even more importantly, his blood pressure and cholesterol readings have improved.

Watching Hartree’s transformation during my initial weeks working as a personal trainer at Renouf was completely inspiring. And it made me wonder why Hartree was able to completely turn his life around, while others continued to make excuses.

“It’s hard for me to say ‘just try it’ or ‘you can do it’ because I heard all that from others for so many years,” he said.  

Hartree - who admitted that the simple act of tying his shoe laces used to be a chore – eventually grew tired of carrying around all those unnecessary pounds and decided to do something about it.

“To my embarrassment I tried Lite and Easy, I tried the Tony Ferguson diet and I even looked into getting gastric banding surgery, but that would’ve been taking the easy option,” Hartree admitted.

“I guess the turning point came when a friend confronted me asking if I’d actually really tried to lose the weight.

“I couldn’t say yes, because while I’d changed some of my bad habits from time to time, I hadn’t really committed to anything.”

Hartree attributed his new and improved smaller frame to an attitude shift on his part plus unwavering support, advice and encouragement from the staff at Renouf.

“I definitely did have the mindset that I seriously wanted to do something about my weight,” Hartree recalled. “And for once I just listened to advice. 

“At no stage (during the eight-week challenge) did I doubt myself because they (the staff at Renouf) believed 110 per cent that if I stuck to the program I would lose the weight."
  
What separates the Renouf program from other weight-loss options is its commitment to all aspects of fitness training – including strength, stamina and suppleness – plus a very well-considered nutrition plan (which even allows for occasional ‘treat’ meals).
  
But the indomitable Hartree took an “all or nothing approach” to his two-month journey.

“Basically I put my life on hold for eight weeks,” Hartree said. “I didn’t sway at all from the program; I didn’t even have a treat day or a treat meal.

“And each night as I went to bed I congratulated myself for not giving in to temptations.”