TT Fat Loss Success Story of the Month – September 2009

Each month I like to give out at least one Platinum TT membership to the TT user who provides the best fat loss success story…and this month, one of our winners is Darren Oldfield from the UK.

Darren wins a 1-Year Platinum TT membership, but more importantly, he has some powerful fat burning success tips to share with you.

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“Because loads of other testimonials invariably headline member’s actual weight loss in kgs / lbs, I thought I’d approach it a little differently & suggest ways to focus on motivation and a scientific outlook to TT, because I think the longer term goal should be to make this a way of life, not just a 12-week programme.

There is no reason why you can’t comfortably be doing squats, mild lunges, dumbell work & pressups when you’re 70.

Based on my own experience so far my recommendation to anyone considering TT for fat loss is to approach it as a scientific project, because there are often inherent (negative) historical connotations for people who’ve tried & failed with weight loss programmes.

Adopting a scientific approach helps to bypass the emotion with what is often a difficult thing to achieve: desperation to lose fat.

I’ve been using TT for about 8 weeks.

From a start point of 95kgs I’ve lost around 8kgs (17lbs). My lean triceps, forearms & muscle definition are making a very loud comeback. I also feel healthier & stronger, never bloated after a meal, and I feel energised.

I’m still 15kgs off my target weight but I’m more than happy with my progress.

My own twopennyworth:

1. Accept that you are going to be doing this for at least 12 weeks.

There are no overnight miracles, but expect to be seriously surprised. Don’t expect to lose much more fat than 2-2.5lbs / week on average: your body probably can’t manage it anyway unless you’re doing it unhealthily.

Even if your progress is better than expected, DON’T stop & give yourself rewards, because there’ll probably be good weeks and bad ones. You MUST keep going for the full 12 weeks – it’s worth it.

2. Forget about going near a weighing scale more than once per fortnight, and not until week 3 of your programme.

By that stage you’ll have something to look forward to. Anytime before then can lead to demoralisation if you’re  expecting too much too soon.

3. If motivation is something you struggle with, then choose 2 friends/family members who are hard but fair.

Ask them to be tough with you, but not unreasonable. Don’t use Aunty Ethel who used to give you chocolates when you cried as a child: she’ll just do it again.

4. Craig recommends Fitday.com to monitor your diet.

This has been the biggest aid for me. It’s a fantastic, free tool, and I use it to record everything which goes down my throat. If nothing else it’s a tangible, black-and-white way to keep yourself in check. And remember, ultimately it’s simple maths: what you burn must exceed what goes into your mouth.

5. If you’re getting through your workouts without a sweat then go back and study the techniques again, because you’re doing it wrong.

As a former athlete and all-round sportsman I have good muscle memory & exercise ability, but I still sweat buckets. Like me you should get to the end of a workout having cursed the day Craig Ballantyne was born (in fact Craig, I have called you every name under the sun during my workouts (and I’m pretty inventive). My cat now believes you’re the anti-Christ and my dog snarls at the sound of your name. But I feel great at the end of a workout.

6. One of the best things you can do with your diet is to jazz up the taste of the kind of food you may consider boring (e.g. veges).

I have at least 8 units of fruit & veg every day, and I eat roasted vegetables at least 5 times per week. I use non-fat seasoning & herbs, and I can’t get enough of my veges now.

The upshot of my “science project” approach to TT is that it’s now a straightforward routine which I slip into easily. I love my exercise, I look forward to it, and I love my food. I haven’t touched a chocolate bar in 2 months and I don’t even miss them. Yet. Best of all, it has already started to feel like a new way of life, and I don’t feel tempted to give it up at all.

Finally, remember that this is hard work and it needs the investment of your own effort to succeed. Nobody else can do it for you, but really & truly: 12 weeks commitment is not hard to ask of anyone. Ultimately though, it’s about looking after your body and your health, because you’re the only custodian of them.

Kind regards
Darren Oldfield
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Darren, thank you so much. That was a great lesson for everyone.

Sorry to hear about your cat,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Turbulence Training