A woman who lost the equivalent of an adult person in weight has credited the massive loss to a key “permanent lifestyle change”.
Karen Haffernan, 50, weighed in at a concerning 22 stone (139kg) in 2023, prompting harsh comments from a surgeon during a routine visit that year. Furious Karen, who is from a small village outside Glasgow, has honed her anger over the last year and more, and managed to lose nearly 100kg.
She is 13.5 stone (85 kg) lighter than she was nearly two years ago, meaning she has shed the equivalent of an obese adult person, making her a slim nine stone (57kg). She has said she is the “fittest and strongest” she has ever been, and credited her weight loss to one major change.
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Karen says she was able to make the massive jump after downloading the Simple app, an AI-powered programme backed by nutritional behavioural and medical experts. The app helps people lose weight by establishing healthy habits tailored to personal goals, and in Karen’s case ushered in a “permanent lifestyle change”.
She told Wales Online: “Mentally, and physically, I’m the fittest and the strongest I can be, and this is a permanent lifestyle change for me. I can’t believe it’s actually been so simple. I’ve not felt deprived along the way. This isn’t through surgery, it’s not through medication, any of that.
“Some vitamins along the way, yes, but good food, good exercise, good sleep, and motivation to keep you going along the way.” Karen, who was paid for her testimony by the Simple team, said she benefitted from the app’s tools used to keep users motivated and accountable, including a food logging system and NutriScanner which breaks down the nutritional value of meals.
The scanner allows people to track their protein, fat and carbohydrate intake, and explains the effect each food group has on the body. The app also allows people to track intermittent fasting routines using behavioural rather than calorie counting methods. Simple also helps people with their exercise by creating tailored workout plans, helped by its AI-powered assistant Avo.
Avo advises people and answers questions about aspects of the Simple regime throughout their fitness journey. Five-star reviews for the app have credited the “amazing” Avo coach for its “encouraging” approach that allows them to “stay motivated” without being restricted.
While Karen has raved about the app and championed its strategy, not every user has been impressed, with three-star reviewer saying they “dislike most of the preloaded recipes”. They added: “I wish there was a meal plan feature to put together and plan meals ahead.” Another criticised the app’s behavioural focus, saying it was “centred around fasting”. They added: “I don’t seem to be responding well to fasting because I’m gaining weight.”
As part of the Simple app’s huge January sale, shoppers can currently use the code REACH60 to save 60 percent off Simple’s weight loss plans, with prices varying depending on the kind of membership chosen.