The Miraculous Transformation of a Health Steward in South Africa!

A Recent Testimonial from Johan

Dear Dr. Nick,

The first time I heard about your weight loss journey was on a radio programme a couple of years ago. I immediately searched the web for more information and found your “old” web site. I was amazed by your determination, and what you’ve been able to accomplish.

I have been overweight since I can remember, and I’ve tried a lot of ways to lose weight. Unfortunately, I lacked the one thing that was necessary: will power. So I just got heavier as the years went by.

When your book was released, I immediately ordered it. I received it on a Saturday morning and finished reading it before the weekend was over. I found that I could identify with you on so many levels: the mockery, not fitting into airplane seats and starting with diets and failing so many times. It was refreshing to read about an ordinary guy who has managed to accomplish so much to turn his life around.

Unfortunately it took me a while to grasp the concept of changing how you think before changing how you look.

I have a friend (his name is Gys) who was overweight by more or less the same amount than me. One day in April 2007 we were talking about our weight and the effect it was having on our lives, and the influence that it might have on our children’s lives. We then decided that we would embark on a weight loss journey together so that we could be accountable to each other. We immediately joined a weight loss programme that was focused on teaching you to eat health food and moderate portions. I then really realised what you meant by changing the way you think before changing the way you look. The premise of your whole message is "You have to change the way you see before you can change the way you look." We learned how to look for healthy options even if we were away from home and had to eat at restaurants.

The best thing about tackling this issue together is that we are accountable to each other. We exercise together at 5am five times a week, and we weigh ourselves at the gym after every exercise so that we can monitor each other’s progress.

Since April 2007 I’ve been able to lose 116 pounds and Gys 114 pounds (yes, we’ve kept our weight loss totals close together throughout the entire process). I am humbled to see how gracious the Lord has been to us.

I would be lying if I said that it has been an easy journey. Sometimes I really became discouraged, and this is when your book really helped me. Some days I would just take your book and read a random chapter or look at the photos. This helped me to get my focus back. My favourite part is where you caught the halibut, and how the Lord encouraged you through that.

I’ve found that your 7 pillars really make sense and are so useful (although I was not able to take a radical sabbatical). The one that I find most useful is probably “Burn Calories Like Never Before”. We use heart rate monitors when we exercise, and it helps us to ensure that we burn enough calories during each exercise.

I would like to thank you for the way that you act towards the people who are inspired by you. Although I’ve told many people about your book, I refuse to lend anyone my copy, because of the personal message you’ve written in it before sending it, along with the reference to Matthew 5:16. I trust that the Lord will bless you abundantly for the love and care that you so humbly give to others. I hope that I will one day be able to personally thank you for your share in turning my life around.

I have attached “before” and “after” pictures. I am on the left and Gys on the right.

Johan







Click Here to check out Dr. Nick's "My Big Fat Greek Diet". Click play below to listen to a sample of the book.