Losing weight sustainably, without yo-yoing. This is how you do it

In recent years, Marcella van Doorn saw the needle on the scale slowly moving in the wrong direction. She almost decided to accept that the kilos would not disappear so easily as the years went by. Until one of her trainers at Happy Bodies recommended the VYTAL nutrition app. Marcella is now not only five kilos lighter, she also feels that she can easily maintain this. In this blog, she shares her experiences.

A gym without daredevils

Almost four years ago I ended up at Happy Bodies in Heemstede through someone else. I had already visited quite a few gyms, but Happy Bodies is really different. There are no daredevils parading around in front of large mirrors here, there is a place for everyone, young and old, athletic or less athletic. It is very personal here. I train twice a week in the Milon circle. Very efficient, but to be honest I don't necessarily like that the most. The Synergy lessons that I also follow once a week, that's what really makes me happy. The trainer sets out a kind of course, for you personally or in a small group, with weights, ropes or balls. Very varied. I find the regular measurements quite confronting, but at the same time it is very stimulating.

Pleasantly surprised

My weight is a point of attention for me. Especially now that I'm getting older, I notice that I've unknowingly gained a few kilos that don't go away so easily. Very frustrating, but I really didn't feel like following some kind of starvation diet. When one of the trainers at Happy Bodies suggested that I get started with the VYTAL app, I wasn't immediately enthusiastic. I always eat fairly healthy, and wondered what I would gain from this. Six weeks later I was already very pleasantly surprised: I had lost five kilos of fat and four kilos of weight.

Clear and flexible

With three teenagers at home and a job as an independent career coach, I don’t have time for some complicated diet. This app is very clear. I know exactly what I’m allowed to eat – which is quite a lot – and it’s very flexible. Today I had a recipe with broad beans on the menu, but I still had fresh spinach that needed to be used up. It’s very easy to find a replacement recipe with spinach. Even if my husband is coming over for lunch, I can simply indicate that I want a recipe for two people. It’s also nice that you can plan ahead. I know exactly what groceries I need to get and if I’m giving a training, I can prepare some snacks the day before. I recently went away for a weekend. I brought a crate with the things I needed. My fellow travelers thought it looked so delicious that I ended up making salad for the whole group.

Sustainable result

What also works well for me is that I now always have a kitchen scale on the counter. For example, if I am allowed to have nuts as a snack, I now weigh them. Because the scale is there anyway, I do it. In the past, I would have just filled the bowl. I had almost given up hope of losing weight, it is very nice to discover that it is possible. It is simply very cleverly set up. Your supervisor acts as a stick behind the door, checking off the meals feels like a kind of reward and the fact that it is very visual also stimulates me. It is not really a diet at all, you learn to deal with food differently. That ensures a sustainable result and prevents you from yo-yoing.