Many of our participants in the Aspire research study have a lot of good things to say about the Aspire for Life programme.  Their comments will speak louder than our words:

“On Aspire, the focus was on committing to a permanent healthy eating plan that would bring a gradual weight loss, rather than a crash diet for immediately dropping kilos. This was the most attractive element of the Aspire approach. I didn't want to go terribly restrictive or eat special pre-packaged food, and then be left at my ideal weight but with no idea how to eat healthy from then on to keep it all off. On this approach, I lost over 25 kg and am still making progress. I believe that the last few months of learning new eating habits has set me up for a permanent lifestyle that I will have no problems sticking to in order to remain at my ideal weight.

As a bit of an Internet-junkie already, I found the Internet delivery method extremely convenient for me. It was no problem to log on for a few minutes and record the meals for the day when required or check on newsletter updates to see what's new. In particular, I made good use of the chat facility to gain some excellent advice from the dietitian on the programme, in response to both my and others' questions. It was helpful to know I could bring up a question then to get answered, or dash off a request on the site if it couldn't wait till chat time. I particularly enjoyed being able to interact with the other participants and see how they were doing each week in their own progress.”          

After the initial 25 kg, Deb had lost another 15! She is now a qualified personal fitness trainer. It is her aspiration to help others and she aspires to pass on whatever she had learnt about a healthy diet and weight loss to others - and help them improve their lives. 

Dear Aspire team,

12 weeks later and 20 kg lighter - Aspire has really turned my life around!

"Many people (including me) think that serious extra weight is irreversible and will be never come off, unless they do something extreme like a dramatic weight loss diet or surgery. I am evidence that this is not true! Aspire worked for me as an accessible and easily adaptable programme - I even managed to fit it around many business lunches, eating out on several multi-day trips, Easter etc.

Aspire has changed my attitude to and appreciation of food, but the key driver has been the gain in fitness and well-being – the weight-loss has almost been a bonus. How empowering to realise that I could implement a new lifestyle in a relatively easy fashion AND regain energy and fitness! For me it started with an easy ride on the push-bike to and from work. Then I kept challenging myself by climbing some steeper hills in weekends too. It was hard when I started but has gradually
become quite satisfying. 

In the end, Aspire is not an easy fix but about true lifestyle
changes where health, healthy choices and fitness go
hand-in-hand. Thanks Aspire!"

Best wishes,
Huub

Huub appeared on Close up Monday August 10, 2009  view on tvnz.co.nz

“I am so happy with the changes Aspire has helped me to introduce to my lifestyle. The suggested foods, portion size and the sound advice have had a dramatic impact on my life. Apart from the fact I have lost over 16 kg, I have found I have more energy and vitality. The types of foods I now eat have left me feeling full and satisfied for longer periods of time and reduce the desire to snack.

Both myself and my family found the Aspire recipes tasty and delicious. So many of my friends and colleagues have commented on my weight loss and wanted to know how I have achieved it. I found the online community fun and motivational to interact with and the advice from the Aspire dietitians invaluable. I would happily recommend this diet to anyone wanting to make a healthy lifestyle change."

Andrew Sharpe (aka Skinny)”

Nine months after the end of the programme, Andrew managed to maintain the weight loss that he had achieved.

“Dear Aspire,

"Thank you for helping me get my life back on track and lose 8 kilos. 

Thanks to the wonderful recipes that were provided, my whole family now eat more nutritious and healthy meals. My teenage children liked the "Aspire patties" and would often eat 2 or 3. They still don't realise they contain lentils and rolled oats!!! I still have the "Aspire muesli" every morning and have done so since March 2007. The muesli is cheap and easy to make, and keeps me going till lunch time.

Once again thank you and good luck with your new venture."

Kind Regards
Coffee (aka Kay Faulls)”

“I was truly inspired by Aspire. I began the programme by changing my bread to whole grains. I immediately found a way of losing weight. I quickly found that I could eat the recommended meal portion and not get hungry between meals. This was a huge incentive for me to continue the programme. I read the suggestions and checked out the recipes, adapting them for one person, or making sufficient for two, and freezing one portion.

I enjoyed, and found useful, the chat sessions, getting to know the other participants online, and swapping tips and encouraging others to keep at it. Being able to have regular contact with the dietitian and other Aspire personnel was very important. By using the chat sessions, every question asked, and answer given, was of interest to others online, with everyone able to offer their own opinion.

The day I found I could get into size 16 clothes was a day to remember. The feeling of being able to shop in ‘normal size’ clothing shops was euphoric. It had been perhaps 15 years since I could last do that. Hearing the compliments I received, as I lost weight, was always an incentive to keep going. The good part was that it wasn’t a struggle. I loved my new ‘skinny’ clothes, and loved, even more, the compliments. The extra energy I have by not carrying around that extra weight makes me feel good. I can run, climb stairs, hills, whatever, without puffing or even stopping.”