Andy has learned how to stay on track on the road
After
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Before
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| Name |
Andy |
| Age |
36 |
| Height |
1.79 m |
| Was |
120.5 kg
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| Lost |
43.5 kg
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| Weight |
80 kg
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"The most important piece of advice I can give is to plan ahead! I pack what I need to get me through each day."
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Andy Smith won the 2006 Male Slimmer of the Year Category. Since then he's kept the weight off and is an inspirational Leader, on top of his busy job as Project Manager. Find out his secret!
How did your Weight Watchers Slimmer of the Year Award effect your approach to weight management?
The competition became my motivation. There was no way I was going to enter without looking and feeling my best. I wanted to become a role model and show people that maintaining your weight for life is possible.
Winning the Male Category in 2006 then gave me a platform to inspire others. It was the perfect opportunity for me to demonstrate my knowledge and shout to the world everything I had learned.
What is your secret for maintaining a healthy weight?
It's no secret really - I celebrate my success each and every day! If my weight is creeping up I go back to basics - monitor my activity levels; avoid the little unplanned extras that make it into my shopping trolley; weigh in every week with my fellow Members. Most importantly, I remind myself that I am responsible for my weight management...no one else.
What do you do when you realise you're not following the program honestly?
The first thing is to admit it to myself. It's extremely important to be honest and confronting, as denial is not a positive thing when it comes to weight maintenance.
The next step is to tell my friends that I need extra help. Luckily, most of my friends are Weight Watchers members or staff and they know the challenges. The support network we have created means no one ever feels isolated or alone if they are struggling.
The final step is to recall the fundamental principles that helped me find success in the first place. I track my exercise and control any exercise POINTS values more strictly; I monitor my portion sizes; and it is also important to assess hunger levels before each meal.
How do you juggle Maintenance with so much air travel and hotel stays?
The most important piece of advice I can give is to plan ahead!. I pack what I need to get me through each day and stay in apartments rather than regular hotels. This way I can use the kitchen to prepare my own meals.
I have a routine for travel that has never failed to keep me on track on the road!
I pack individual serves of cereal and some long-life skim milk.
I stock-up on Fruities and Nibblies when I get hit with the munchies.
I always travel with my Weight Watchers exercise DVD, POINTS Pedometer and POINTS calculator.
For any trip longer than one night I take exercise gear and walking shoes.
On flights, I order a fresh fruit platter as a 'special meal'.
Drink only water or diet soft drinks and avoid the desserts on the meal tray.
Upon arriving at the apartment, I locate a convenience store nearby and stock the fridge with healthy snacks such as fruit and skim yoghurt.
I make sure I keep to the same exercise routine, just as if I was at home.
I try avoid conference lunches and pack my own before leaving the apartment.
It is important to remember that even if my company is paying for meals and accommodation, they are not going to pay the meeting fee every time I go 2kg above my Goal weight as a Lifetime member!
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