The internet is awash with weight loss strategies, may of which promise instant results. Adopting a measured approach may be key to long-term success, however.
One Londoner achieved a remarkable weight loss not once but twice in his life, shedding an impressive eight stone at 18 and recently dropping five stone in just four months.
Luke Blaney told GB News that the dramatic transformations, both starting from 20 stone, were primarily achieved through dietary changes rather than exercise.
He noted that the key to his success was following a structured daily meal plan with identical lunches to maintain strict calorie control.
Luke has proven that weight is possible at all stages of life
LUKE BLANEY
“Each day, I’d eat the exact same thing for lunch to ensure that I knew the calorie intake and then all I had to do was control dinner,” the slimmer explained.
Every meal emphasised high protein and vegetables, but Luke claimed his weight loss came after he completely eliminated certain foods from his diet.
“No potato and no bread,” he revealed, adding that he avoided pasta too due to portion control challenges.
“I avoided pasta because I have an unhealthy love of Italian food and found I would load up too much on pasta on my plate,” noted Luke. “By avoiding potato, bread and pasta I lost most of the weight.”
Founder of Melbourne Functional Medicine, Jabe Brown, explained why cutting out these foods alone will drastically affect the waistline: “Refined carbohydrates and sugary foods are digested faster and can cause rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar levels, which can lead to increased hunger in some people.
“Additionally, they often contain a suboptimal nutritional profile, making it challenging to maintain a calorie deficit just on simple carbohydrates.”
For sustainable weight loss, the expert recommends making the switch to complex carbs, as they promote satiety.
“Unlike simple carbohydrates, complex carbs are digested more slowly, leading to a gradual release of glucose into the bloodstream. This helps prevent spikes in blood sugar levels, reducing hunger and preventing overeating.”
While Luke abstained from refined carbohydrates completely, he made an exception for a few rice-based products like Gyoza dumplings, explaining that they offered satisfying meals under 500 calories when steamed.
“Everyone could lose weight and they don’t have to be relentless in counting calories in the way I thought,” he reflected.
Luke has proven that weight is possible at all stages of life
LUKE BLANEY
Luke shared: “I created a consistent meal plan. Each day I’d eat the EXACT same thing for lunch to ensure that I knew the calorie intake and then all I had to do was control dinner, which was doable.
“Whether in the office or at home, my meal was always the same and very low in calories but high in protein and vegetables.
“This one habit helped me eradicate fat-heavy foods and also helped me to work out what foods were really bad for me,” he shared, adding that he’d always assumed Fajitas were healthy.”
While the birth of Luke’s son provided crucial motivation for his success, the slimmer’s journey is a testament to the fact that weight loss is possible at all stages of life.
