1. Can you tell us a little about your weight loss journey before joining our program?
I was 59 years old when I joined Harvey Brooker in March 2012. Before that, my weight loss journey was all over the place. I moved from diet to diet, which led to short-term weight loss but ultimately ended in failure and more weight gain. Only through the HB lifestyle, which focuses on nourishing myself, did I sustain my 60-pound weight loss. The key to my success was that Harvey Brooker is not a diet but an educational forum on how we interact with food.
2. What was your biggest motivation for wanting to lose weight?
In 2012, my initial motivation was to lose weight just to look better. However, I soon realized the many health benefits. I gained more energy, a better outlook on life, and, simply put, a healthier body. I can now do things I had stopped doing, like ice skating and playing with my grandchildren. My confidence has returned, and I feel in control of my body.
3. What specific goals did you set for yourself when you started the program?
My goal was initially to lose enough weight to look better. However, I got more than I bargained for. Not only do I look better, but I feel better and am off my medications. That’s a huge win for me, and I owe it to the HB classes and the motivation I got from interacting with other men in the program.
4. How did our program help you achieve your weight loss goals?
The Harvey Brooker program gave me a new mindset about what food really is. I now see food as fuel for my body. The HB pledge reminds me daily to treat my body with respect because it is a life support system. If my body is like a luxury car, why wouldn’t I put in the best fuel in measured amounts to run it efficiently?
5. What was the most valuable aspect of the community support?
The in-class support was invaluable, giving me the encouragement to feel that I am a “majority of one.” Seeing other men lose weight made me realize I could do it too. This empowerment helped me achieve my weight goals.
6. Were there any tools or resources from the program that made a big difference for you?
The weekly speaker talks and the notes I took were key. Other resources like the Maintainers’ meetings, the Quick Start Program, the Harvey Brooker website, and Harvey’s taped discussions continue to benefit me greatly.
7. How did you find the diet/exercise plan? Was there anything you found challenging?
The 20/20 diet is easy to understand and very practical, with foods available at any grocery store. Initially, my wife didn’t understand the diet, and she would sometimes unintentionally sabotage my new lifestyle with her cooking. But with the resolve I gained from HB and support from the other men, I can now handle those challenges!
8. How did you stay motivated throughout the process?
It wasn’t as difficult as I initially thought, as long as I attended the weekly HB sessions. The sessions gave me tools to handle real-world challenges, like eating out, handling temptations, and managing hunger.
9. What physical or emotional changes have you experienced since joining the program?
I feel like I have extra energy and my mood doesn’t fluctuate like it used to. My last physical showed excellent results—normal cholesterol, no more CPAP machine, and no need for knee surgery. These real changes motivate me to stay on the path I’m on with HB.
10. How has your weight loss affected other areas of your life (e.g., energy levels, confidence, relationships)?
My weight loss initially got me a lot of compliments, but after 12 years, people are used to the new me. My love life has improved significantly. I joke that I almost make love every night—almost Monday, almost Tuesday, almost Wednesday—but in all seriousness, my wife finds me more attractive now, and our relationship has benefited.
11. What are you most proud of in your weight loss journey?
I’m proud that I gained so much knowledge about healthy eating and living. I used to pay more attention to what I fed my pets and how I maintained my car than to my own body. Now, I’m proud to be literate in healthy eating, and it’s become a hobby to learn more about health.
12. What advice would you give to other men who are thinking about starting their weight loss journey?
Start early. Don’t wait until you’re 59 like I did. The phrase from HB, “If you could do it alone, you would have done it already,” is so true. Get on board as soon as possible to avoid the medical complications that come with obesity. HB offers a lifestyle change that can help you prevent many diseases.
13. What’s one thing you wish you had known when you started the program?
I wish I had known that I couldn’t do it alone. I kept fooling myself into thinking I could, but every new diet I tried led to more weight gain. HB’s long-term support and free lifetime access for maintainers make all the difference in maintaining success.
14. How do you plan to maintain your results moving forward?
I plan to keep doing exactly what I’m doing now—following the 20/20 program, attending classes for life, whether in person or on Zoom, and continuing to build my knowledge about food and health. The support of the HB community and the program’s resources are part of my new lifestyle.
15. What future goals are you working toward now that you’ve achieved your weight loss goal?
My goal is to enjoy a healthy and active retirement with my family and friends. I want to maximize living in the years I have left with a body that moves freely and isn’t tied down by obesity or illness. My aim is to stay as young as possible, even in an aging body.
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