La Ronge man sheds 180 pounds using apps, Facebook

“At the rate I’m going I’m basically digging myself a grave. Like I’m so close to death and I knew it,” he said about his weight when it was at over 500 pounds. “I’d walk from my truck … to my office; I’d be huffing and puffing and I’d have to sit down because my back was going into spasms.”

Instead of just waiting for the surgery, which he said is currently booked for the end of June, Bird took it upon himself to make the change. He said he had a meeting with his family to inform them the entire household with be eating healthier.

“It was cold turkey. Like the changes were overnight,” he said explaining he dropped sugar, carbonated drinks and coffee cream, among other things.

And the first month was hard, according to Bird. “When I stood on the scale that day [Sept. 11, 2013], that was the most embarrassing day of my life.”

Since he made the commitment to drop the pounds eight months ago, he said phone apps and social media have played a key role in his efforts.

He said he started getting a lot of followers on his Facebook page after he posted his weight loss progress and wanted to see if he could inspire more people with his story.

“I thought about it on New Year’s and said ‘that’ll be my New Year’s resolution. I’m going to see if I can motivate one person. I’m going to start this page,’” he said. The page is called “Get Off Your Ass Diet,” because “that’s the only way it will work.”

“Big people, they want to be thin, they long to be like that and the only place you see these people losing ridiculous amount of weight are on these shows like Biggest Loser or Extreme Weight Loss; we don’t know people in Saskatchewan who have actually gone through this process,” he said.

For those looking to lose weight, Bird hopes his page could be one of the resources available in addition to other tools like doctors, exercise therapists, dieticians and social workers.

“Well there’s people out there if you need help, like even through my website so far I’ve gotten in touch with people who are even heavier than me when I started,” he added.

In addition to his page, Bird uses an app called My Fitness Pal, which tracks his food and caloric intake.

“I could tell you every meal I’ve eaten since Sept. 11 by utilizing this one app,” he said. “It’s really easy to use.”

Bird also uses a tracking app and a Bluetooth toque that plays music to keep him motivated in the winter. Over the Easter holiday, he said he walked 30 kilometres, but aims for just a little bit of movement every day.

Even at work he said uses his 15 minute breaks to take a brisk walk—something he said is energizing.

“It’s all the little things that you’re able to do that add up that mean more. Like, I’m able to go to a restaurant now and sit in a booth. Before I was limited on the restaurants I can go to unless they have a chair and the chair can’t have arms or else I would have been able to fit,” he explained.

Bird’s goal is to reach 220 pounds—the same weight he was when he was 18 years old.

“Keep your goals small, keep your goals achievable and you’ll be able to reach them.”

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84

by Sarah Stone

La Ronge man sheds 180 pounds using apps, Facebook

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