The Programme, week 7: Jo Nisbett

Jo: Jo Nisbett One of my aims was to get back into doing regular exercise and to start jogging again. Our carbohydrates were reduced and we increased our protein intake. It wasnít as difficult as we thought it would be. The diet was harder to begin with, and so was starting to exercise again. We've got a one-year-old son, so the hardest thing is fitting it all in around him. Itís about making little changes to your lifestyle. I do want to lose more weight, but now Iím approaching it from a different standpoint. It's been helpful having Alex dieting at the same time, since weíve worked together and I think we'll continue to do that. They found it extremely useful and felt enlightened to the way forward. Both felt pleasantly surprised about the accessibility of the diet. They used words like refreshed, there bodies craving for carbohydrate has gone away. Jo especially felt the benefit of finding she had polycystic ovaries as diagnosed by Dr Fred Wadsworth part of the team at the Centre.

Matt Lovell, nutritionist: Alex was impressed by the professionalism and the practicality for the mere mortal person on the street. He felt tighter, fitter and fresher since beginning both the diet and the exercise programme. Enjoying their holiday in Cornwall, Jo and Alex were tucking into lots of fresh fish and shell-fish with veggies and salad in the evening. A little more alcohol has been present; allowable when on vacation. The next step is to look to the long term and build a plan for the way forwards. This will involve increasing awareness of all foods and food groups (the discerning shopper reads the labels) integrating this knowledge into an active lifestyle and using activity to make way and compensate for any over indulgences that may occur particularly applicable at this time of the year! The diet should then evolve and change as the year progresses different ingredients come into season and then so should our eating patterns change to include these special seasonal variations.

Neal Chamberlain, trainer: Once Jo got started there was no stopping; her enthusiasm and determination to make the programme work were the key components. If anyone is to start a new regime then follow Jo's example; there's no point in going in half hearted, maximise your results by really going for it and you'll be amazed how quickly fitness improves! Jo has lost body weight, reduced bodyfat percentage and vastly improved her overall fitness.