Christian: "One of the best things I have done for my body in my life."

My name is Christian. I am 51 years old and come from Germany originally. I am married and I am a scientist, specialising in cellular metabolism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. I arrived in the UK 20 years ago and have lived here ever since. Music is one of my main hobbies, I play the viola and really like photography. Cooking is another favourite pastime. Probably due to my profession, I am a bit of a ‘data junkie’, which I think had quite a positive influence on how I have been able to handle my diagnosis.

"I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes"

I basically diagnosed myself when I realised that within the previous year I had three local infections which turned into systemic infections where I needed antibiotic treatment, despite before only needing antibiotics twice in my entire life, as well as experiencing numbness in my feet and extreme tiredness for two entire weeks. I ordering a random blood glucose measuring kit and received a shocking reading (25mmol/L!), so I booked an appointment with my GP.

After another blood test, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. A colleague of mine suggested a few programmes, including Counterweight. After researching all the possibilities, I decided that Counterweight was the best approach to help me with my diabetes because the programme has been through a large clinical trial and because it doesn't just focus on the weight loss phase, but also re-introduction of normal food and weight maintenance. In hindsight, these stages of the programme are even more important than I initially thought, and I am glad I chose Counterweight.

"It is probably one of the best things I have done for my body in my life" 

Very surprisingly, I found it easier than expected. When I first diagnosed myself, I basically went on a 'no-carb' diet where I limited my total carb intake below 20g per day (this was very difficult!). When I started the Counterweight programme, it was quite easy, as I started to eat more carbs! Despite my expectations, even though I was eating more carbs while having the meal replacements, my blood sugar values became much better.

To be honest, I didn't particularly enjoy the shakes and soups after a while (but I didn't expect that I would!) it is still probably one of the best things I have done for my body in my life. One of the most challenging things about following a low-calorie diet is to provide balanced nutrition to your body, and the Counterweight meal replacements solve that problem for you.

"I basically reset my metabolism and nutrition!" 

The weight loss is obviously amazing and in my opinion would have been much harder without the Counterweight programme, and the consistent (i.e., every two weeks) interaction with the dedicated dietician is invaluable. I feel I still have a few obstacles to overcome, which I hope to clear with my dietician in the next few months. I am very happy to have the option of ongoing support from my dietitian.

The main result from the Counterweight programme is that I basically reset my metabolism and nutrition! While the achieved weight loss is obviously very important, the latter is much more important to my daily life, as now I will choose a bit of fruit over a chocolate bar for a snack and not think twice.

"My nutrition has changed tremendously"

I think a lot more about the way I eat and how it will affect my blood sugar levels. Since getting my blood sugar levels back to normal, I know now how I “feel” depending on my blood glucose measurements. My nutrition has changed tremendously, and I probably did not live as healthy as now.

"The Counterweight programme has taught me there is a way (changing your lifestyle) to add years to your own life!"

What I've learned from the programme is:

1. Type 2 diabetes is not a death sentence!
2. Type 2 diabetes can be significantly improved with dietary control, even if you do not achieve remission
3. If you are overweight, even if you did not have any other symptoms or conditions, it is still probably the best things you can do for your body!
4. By changing your lifestyle, there is a way to add years on to your life

"Counterweight covers not just the weight loss stage, but the food re-introduction as well as weight maintenance" 

Always go with the science! Counterweight is based on a clinical trial (tick), nutritionally balanced (tick) and does not just cover the weight loss period, but also the food re-introduction period as well as the weight maintenance period.

I know, that my statement sounds basically like an ad for Counterweight, but I am really eternally grateful for how they have supported me so far and I do not think that I would have been able to achieve what I have been able to without the Counterweight programme!