Takeaways, parties, microwave meals – after piling on the pounds at university, tennis fanatic Rafic Massih, 34, hung up his racket as he struggled with his weight. Now, he’s lost 3st 12lb* and is back on the court. Rafic gives us the lowdown on his LighterLife experience…
My story
I’ve played tennis since I was 12 years old. When I started university, I got quite lazy and I was eating a lot of takeaways. I soon stopped doing any exercise and eventually stopped playing tennis. Once I graduated, I struggled with my weight. I remember playing a game of tennis and it was horrible! I’d put on so much weight that I could barely move my legs to chase the ball. I was breathless and just didn’t have the stamina.
My weight affected me in every aspect. I couldn’t bend down to tie my shoelaces without having trouble breathing. I’d wear shirts to work and they’d be so tight around my stomach. I love clothes, and not being able to wear what I wanted really annoyed me.
My friend’s girlfriend had done LighterLife and looked amazing, so I contacted my local Counsellor, Claire Bonner. I went to my first session with the notion that it would be too expensive and wouldn’t work. I gave Claire two weeks to prove to me that it was worth the investment. She promised me that not only would I lose weight, but I’d eventually smash my weight-loss target.
When the pounds did start coming off, I was shocked that I’d actually found an answer to losing weight. I went on to lose 3st 12lb.
My inspiration
Being able to wear nice clothes. I’m a denim freak – I love jeans. I wanted to look normal in clothes and feel good about myself. I also wanted to get back into tennis.
How I kept focused
One thing I’d do was drive myself to Tesco, pick up a chocolate bar, and read the nutrition info on the back. Having the strength to put it back was a psychological way of teaching myself that I didn’t need to eat it.
My LighterLife group
In the group, the men are all there for the same reason, so it’s not at all embarrassing. It’s somewhere you can have a chat and a laugh. I learned that I was just eating out of habit and not for hunger.
How my life has changed
I used to be a bit of a couch potato; I’ve never really liked the outdoors. Now, 90% of what I do outside of work hours is outdoors. I’m either playing tennis, running or in the gym, or doing something that involves fresh air.
My eating habits
I love cheesecake, and I’ll have it if I want it. Thanks to LighterLife Management, I’ve learned that what goes in must come out. And for me, that means hitting the gym the next day and eating healthily.
My advice for people thinking of joining
Don’t think about it, just do it. The whole point of LighterLife is to change the way you think about food. People who put the weight back on are people who haven’t changed their attitude, and haven’t bought into the essence of LighterLife, which is a change of lifestyle.”
*Each of our client’s results and stories are unique to them and their experience of LighterLife. Your own results will be personal to you and may vary.
Join LighterLife now
