John, nearly half the man he used to be
John, nearly half the man he used to be. By Kevin Stapleton
Many readers from the south corner of Wicklow may know who this story is about. It is about an affable sports fan from Shillelagh who in just seven months has lost almost 25% of his body weight and shed an incredible 91 inches from his body.
John Whelan is 6 foot 2, acclaimed by many in his local area and a general operative in Kerry Foods. John took time out from his now hectic lifestyle to explain to us that he used to do very little exercise wore a 48 inch trousers and a 20 inch shirt, which meant he found it difficult to find clothes. “I weighed 24 stone flat last February. I play golf and considered coming home after 3 or 4 holes. When I played a round, I would come home and sit down on couch for the afternoon or have a sleep. I heard about success stories in Verve Wellness Centre in Bunclody and decided to see what it was about.”
Before starting on a diet, John explains what his day would have consisted of, “I used to get up in the morning and leave for work with no breakfast. I might get two or three sausages in work, then maybe a dinner or a roll for lunch and then another dinner that night. If I felt hungry that night, I’d go to the chipper or the shop and get sweets and coke, anything you could name.”
In February, John started a Herbalife basic weight management programme with enhancers taken as he needed them. “I’d get a Herbalife shake in the morning along with my multivitamin and fibre supplements and a cup of green tea. I’d get the same at lunch and a good healthy chicken or fish dinner that night” he explains. The results were evident very quickly as in just a week, John dropped 17lbs. “I reached the two stone mark in 5 or 6 weeks then. I had a savage increase of energy after the first week and the clothes started to swing on me.”
John had tried eating healthy before but found the weight fluctuated very quickly and he tended to gain weight quicker than lose it. With such a big appetite, you would be forgiven for thinking it would be a struggle taking the Herbalife shake. “The first week was very tough. I would take a shake and afterwards I’d say to myself was that food I just took or what’s the story. After that I started to enjoy it.” he jokes.
The key stats of John’s transformation are staggering. “My total loss from my body is 91 inches. The next time you have a measuring tape, take a look at that figure and that’s what is gone from me.” John informs us. “I’ve also gone from a size 48 waist trousers to a 38 and down to a 17 shirt from a 20. In just 7 months, I’ve lost 5 and a half stone, down to 18 and a half stone.” " I am in a routine now,it's part of my life and beside from it tasting good I would miss not taking it."
And this physical transformation has also seen changes in John’s lifestyle. “I’d never been on a sun holiday” John tells us. “I’d be under pressure on a good day in Ireland when the weather is good with sweat and no energy carrying that weight. So this year, we ended up in Santa Ponsa for a week and it was brilliant.” John also informs us of the drastic increase in exercise he now does, “I can go out and play my golf at the weekend without getting tired. Some days I contemplated coming in after 4 or 5 but I can relax and my concentration levels are higher. I now walk around 7km a night after I come home from work with all the energy I have. I started this to try give the programme a boost.”
With a strong network around him, John has support from numerous sources over the past few months. “The support at Verve Wellness Centre is unbelievable. If I had an off week they gave me the kick in the backside that I need” John explains with a laugh that explains that bad weeks were a rare occurrence. “It’s unreal to be able to go to people who have achieved similar and they don’t look down at you or judge you. It’s great to be considered equal.”
John even jokes that people around him are beginning to wonder where he has disappeared to, “There is a picture in work of a golfing event we done for charity. People often pass it around and look at it and wonder where the person in the picture is, has he left the company or is he still working here anymore” he explains. “I’ve worked in there for 10 years and people are saying it to me in the corridors when I pass and I have to explain to them that I am that John Whelan”.
John is never shy to share his experience to anyone who is interested and often talks at events ran in Verve Wellness Centre. Owners Phillippa and Margo Doran have nothing but praise for John. “We are so proud of John and his amazing attitude, dedication and fantastic results using Herbalife products. John has already influenced so many people in the wider community by not being afraid to share his new image and experience. He is an inspiration to everyone out there who is looking to make a change through nutrition and an active lifestyle.”
