No longer tied down by being ‘big’, Edwin Bruce’s ‘nothing-is-going-to-stop-me’ attitude has won him better health, better looks and a much more positive attitude to life in general. The Scottish/Queenslander tour group driver is still on his ‘journey’ and here’s what he had to say about the milestones he’s already reached and the direction he’s taking...
After watching The Biggest Loser with his wife and children and being inspired by the determination and success of the contestants, Edwin was ready to do something he’d put off for many years – lose the excess weight himself, once and for all!
Edwin explains, “When the first series of The Biggest Loser started, I weighed a massive 133kg. The show inspired me and I was actually going to apply for the second season, but I chickened out at the last minute. I’d tried to follow the principles of the TV series and lost 10kg in about a year doing that. Then, my sister-in-law came across The Biggest Loser Club on the internet – I took a look and knew it was going to work for me! When I signed up with The Club, I weighed 125kg.”
Question: What were your biggest challenges in juggling life with a new diet and exercise regime?
Edwin: “My wife and I tend to be very busy; we both work full-time and have two teenage children living at home so planning really was key. The meal plans on The Club were easy to follow and they were made with ‘real’ foods plus they were great for planning ahead – there were no more Friday nights where we didn’t know what to have for dinner so we’d order in pizza! The food was great, simple, easy to make and very tasty. The weekly tips on the site were really interesting, too. It was amazing how much I thought I knew about weight loss, but really, I didn’t know. When I lost weight, the encouragement was terrific. But, on the weeks where I didn’t lose anything and/or even gained some weight, the support was even more welcome!”
Question: You work as a driver/tourist guide – does this make choosing healthy food difficult?
Edwin: “Most of the places I take my tour group provide an ‘all-you-can-eat’ buffet with a wide variety of foods, including healthy choices. My advice to other drivers is to avoid the creamy salads like Caesar and pasta salads and stay with the green, leafy types without dressings; personally, I love the rocket and celery salad. I will also have a small portion of meat, too; about the size of a deck of cards.
“On the trips where no buffet is provided, I plan ahead. I take an Esky packed with food from The Biggest Loser Club menu plan when I can and when this isn’t possible, I try to buy the healthiest thing available. Most service stations sell sandwiches so there’s no excuse for reaching for the pie anymore! Now, I have switched from soft drinks to water and ditched the chocolate bars for fruit, too.
“The most difficult part of driving for a living is staying disciplined. But, walking into my office and ordering uniforms two sizes smaller than the previous ones gives me all the willpower I need. Mate, if I can do it then anyone can!”
Question: Did you use all the features of The Biggest Loser Club?
Edwin: “I liked most aspects of The Club including things like those horrible fat blobs, but I guess I’d have to say the diary was not something I used very often. My working hours are long and by the time I get home, I don’t really have the time to fill it in. I think the concept of the diary is fantastic, though, but the menu plans work best for me.”
Question: The pace of life can make the discipline of eating better and moving more a challenge. So, how did you manage it all?
Edwin: “My wife was also trying to lose a few kilos, so we did it together and it was quite easy. As I mentioned, I loved the menu plans; they made meal times so much easier. After work, my wife and I would meet up and power walk The Esplanade in Cairns. We both enjoyed working out together at the local gym, too. Actually, thanks to The Club, my wife and I spend more quality time together than we did before. Our usual routine used to be a night (OK, every night!) in front of the TV, usually with a beer and wine. Now, we get out more and enjoy the conversations we have when we walk.”
Question: If you had to choose, what single factor would you put your success down to?
Edwin: “Definitely my wife; she’s my inspiration! She never lost faith in my ability to lose the weight I needed to, even when, sometimes, I did! She was always strong and steered me in the right direction, she pushed me that extra little bit when I was ready to give up.”
Edwin started his life-changing journey at 133kg and is now down to just under 110kg. He has lost over 15kg with The Biggest Loser Club and has another 17kg to lose until he reaches his goal weight. And with his great attitude, there’s no doubt he’ll get there! He is now working hard at the gym to tone himself to be the way he wants to be and is truly excited by life! Good on you Edwin!
Edwin’s top 5 tips
Inspired by Edwin’s positive attitude? Here are his five top tips for you:
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Join The Biggest Loser Club – don’t make any more excuses, do it today!
- Follow the menu plan, and weigh and measure your food. Seriously, you don’t realise just how much or little some things weigh!
- Get an exercise buddy – it’s not as easy to sleep in when you know someone is waiting for you.
- Don’t give up, even when you’ve put lots of effort in during the week and the scales don’t show much of a change on weigh-in day. Remember everyone’s body is different; focus on how you feel, your energy levels, your clothes – how baggy do they feel now? Remember, also, if you lose the weight slowly and steadily, you’re more likely to keep it off!
- Give it your all! If I can do it, then so can you! In the beginning, it feels so easy to quit – getting out of bed and pounding the pavement is hard when you’d rather sleep in; so is eating a salad when what you’d really rather be eating pizza. I can guarantee, though, after only a couple of weeks of your new lifestyle, you won’t want to go back to the old sluggish, bloated, lethargic you.