Woman sheds more than half her body weight using AI weight-loss coach

A Scottish woman who shed more than half her body weight has credited small, simple changes that accumulated into a massive transformation in her life. Karen Heffernan, who resides just outside Glasgow, took decisive action following what she described as 'a bit of a health scare and a bit of a difficult conversation with a surgeon'. Rather than calorie counting, she turned to the fitness app Simple to help her make a series of small, gradual changes and - over approximately 18 months - she dropped 14 and a half stone (94kg), which amounts to more than half her body weight having begun at 26 and a half stone.

She says physically and mentally she's the fittest and strongest she's ever been, adding: "I can't believe it's actually been so simple. I've not felt deprived along the way, my motto just now is 'delay don't deny.' You can have the treats, you have the yin and the yang, you build things up. This isn't through surgery, it's not through medication or any of that, some vitamins along the way, yes, but good food, good exercise, good sleep and motivation to keep you going along the way."

She explained how her health transformation had changed her life, giving her more energy as well as a host of other benefits, adding: "It's little things like going out for a meal and not having to worry about where you're sitting or going on an aeroplane and not worrying, if you're in the middle seat, about encroaching on anyone else."

Despite her impressive weight loss, Karen doesn't grapple with loose skin thanks to her use of intermittent fasting. Not only did it aid a healthier weight loss journey, but research from Cambridge University also suggests that it has anti-inflammatory properties, which contribute to skin renewal and elasticity, reports the Mirror.

Fitness and wellbeing apps have seen a surge in popularity in recent years, particularly during the pandemic as people sought to stay fit during lockdown. From meal tracking apps like MyFitnessPal and LoseIt to digital workout programmes like Hevy, there are now plenty of options to help people keep a tool handy in their pocket or handbag to reach their fitness goals.

The Simple app combines different elements from many of these apps into one, offering fitness options ranging from strength training and cardio to chair yoga, along with a host of other high-tech tools. There's NutriScanner, which can track the nutritional value of meals simply by using a photo, and an intermittent fasting tracker for anyone wanting to swap calorie counting for the popular method, also used in Michael Mosley's 16:8 plan that aims to boost metabolism by adjusting the timing of meals.

Additionally, there is an AI-powered assistant, Avo, which can provide advice and answer questions throughout the journey.

The Simple app is currently 60% off for all new signups when users use the code REACH60 at checkout. When people sign up they will be asked to fill in an online questionnaire and their goals and preferences around diet and exercise. This is used to build a fully tailored plan based on an individual's needs and schedule.

Karen explained: "I started small, I found the intermittent fasting lifestyle, did a lot of research and I gradually built things up. Simple was a great way to track the fasts that I was doing and gives you tips along the way. I also introduced Avo, which was great in giving you some tips for health and nutrition and making recipes.

"One of my first tips is to just keep going. Guilt? Get it out the window. There's always the next day where you can start again and get on the journey. Exercise is really important. Now I do core stability, I'm doing pilates and you can't stop me from walking. I take the family on little walks after a meal."

Karen is amongst more than 17 million users of the Simple App worldwide who have downloaded the application to help boost fitness levels. She has been compensated by Simple for her honest testimonial.

Results on the app may vary and people should undertake medical advice before making major changes to their lifestyle. The Simple Life App boasts an impressive average rating of 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot, based on over 28,000 reviews.

One recent five-star reviewer couldn't praise the app enough, stating: "Love this app. It's teaching me how to make eating healthy and being active a lifestyle that I can continue on my own. Love the workouts that I can adjust from low to high depending on my time and energy. Logging food and water is easy, as well as using their AI to get recipes from a list that I have in my pantry and fridge to scanning menus at restaurants to help me choose the best option."

Another user lauded Avo for its motivational capabilities, adding: "The coach is helpful. Also, when I fall off track the coach doesn't make me feel like I failed the day. It is very encouraging and helps keep me motivated and focused."

However, the app isn't universally loved. One three-star reviewer expressed dissatisfaction, commenting: "I feel tied to my phone. It's not good for me."

Yet, another user found the app's portability to be a major advantage, describing it as 'one of the best weight loss and lifestyle apps I've ever used,' and adding: "It's the best culmination of evidence based strategies (fasting, Mediterranean diet, mindfulness, etc) plus the power of AI, which is like having a personal health coach or therapist in your pocket. Also, I love that tracking is so easy and more focused on the quality of food choices vs cumbersome portion size and nutrition tracking like programs of the past."

The Simple app, available on Android and iOS, is currently offering a 60% discount with the code REACH60 at checkout.