Woman lost 13 stone with no calorie counting instead 'delaying not denying' food

A Scottish woman who shed over half her body weight has credited small, consistent changes for her dramatic transformation. Karen Heffernan, who lives just outside Glasgow, decided to take action following a health scare and what she described as a 'challenging conversation' with a surgeon.

Rather than calorie counting, she turned to a fitness app to implement a series of minor, gradual changes. Over approximately 18 months she lost an astonishing 13 and a half stone, with ending up losing more than half her initial weight of 26 and a half stone.

She says she's in the best physical and mental shape of her life, adding: "I can't believe it's actually been so simple. I've not felt deprived along the way, my motto just now is 'delay don't deny.' You can have the treats, you have the yin and the yang, you build things up.

"This isn't through surgery, it's not through medication or any of that, some vitamins along the way, yes, but good food, good exercise, good sleep and motivation to keep you going along the way."

She detailed how her health overhaul has revolutionised her life, providing her with increased energy among other benefits. She added: "It's little things like going out for a meal and not having to worry about where you're sitting or going on an aeroplane and not worrying, if you're in the middle seat, about encroaching on anyone else."

Fitness and wellbeing apps have seen a surge in popularity in recent years, particularly during the pandemic as individuals sought to maintain their fitness during lockdown, reports the Mirror. From meal tracking apps like MyFitnessPal and LoseIt to digital workout programmes like Hevy, there are now numerous options available to help people keep a tool handy for achieving their fitness goals.

The Simple app combines various elements from many of these apps into one, offering fitness options ranging from strength training and cardio to chair yoga, along with a host of other high-tech tools. It features NutriScanner, which can track the nutritional value of meals simply by using a photo, and an intermittent fasting tracker for those wanting to swap calorie counting for the popular method also used in Michael Mosley's 16:8 plan that aims to boost metabolism by adjusting meal timings.

It also includes an AI-powered assistant, Avo, which can provide advice and answer questions throughout the journey. The Simple app is offering a 60% discount for all new signups when users use the code REACH60 at checkout.

After signing up, individuals will be asked to complete an online questionnaire about their diet and exercise goals and preferences. This information is then used to create a fully tailored plan based on an individual's needs and schedule.

Karen explained: "I started small, I found the intermittent fasting lifestyle, did a lot of research and I gradually built things up. Simple was a great way to track the fasts that I was doing and gives you tips along the way. I also introduced Avo, which was great in giving you some tips for health and nutrition and making recipes.

"One of my first tips is to just keep going. Guilt? Get it out the window. There's always the next day where you can start again and get on the journey.

"Exercise is really important. Now I do core stability, I'm doing pilates and you can't stop me from walking. I take the family on little walks after a meal."

Karen is among 17 million users globally who have turned to the app to boost their fitness levels. She has received compensation from Simple for her genuine testimonial.

While results with the app can differ and individuals should seek medical advice before embarking on significant lifestyle changes, the Simple Life App boasts an impressive 4.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on more than 28,000 reviews. One user who recently awarded it five stars, said: "Love this app. It's teaching me how to make eating healthy and being active a lifestyle that I can continue on my own. Love the workouts that I can adjust from low to high depending on my time and energy. Logging food and water is easy, as well as using their AI to get recipes from a list that I have in my pantry and fridge to scanning menus at restaurants to help me choose the best option."

Another review commends Avo for its role in maintaining motivation, stating: "The coach is helpful. Also, when I fall off track the coach doesn't make me feel like I failed the day. It is very encouraging and helps keep me motivated and focused."

The portability of having the app easily accessible on a phone or tablet isn't a hit with everyone however, with a less enthusiastic three-star reviewer saying: "I feel tied to my phone. It's not good for me."

In contrast, another user praised it for just that feature, adding: "It's the best culmination of evidence-based strategies (fasting, Mediterranean diet, mindfulness, etc) plus the power of AI, which is like having a personal health coach or therapist in your pocket. Also, I love that tracking is so easy and more focused on the quality of food choices vs cumbersome portion size and nutrition tracking like programs of the past."

The Simple app, available on both Android and iOS platforms, is currently offering a 60% discount with the use of the code REACH60 at checkout.