Jonathan Tapper reveals the secret to his three-and-a-half stone weight loss

The Gogglebox star reveals the secret to his three-and-a-half stone weight loss…

By Claire Muffett-Reece

Jonathan, you’re almost unrecognisable from when we first saw you on Gogglebox! How much weight have you lost?

‘I’ve lost around three-and-a-half stone and it’s all down to healthy eating and exercise. I’ve been following the Musclefood Do The Unthinkable programme. It’s a 12-week plan where all your meals and snacks are delivered chilled to your door each week. There’s an exercise programme too which you can do from home, with amazing support from the Do The Unthinkable personal trainer, team and community.’

How long did it take you to lose the weight, and did you have any hiccups along the way?

‘It’s taken me around five months to lose and I plan to carry on losing a little more, before maintaining the loss. There haven’t been any hiccups – the plan is so easy to follow and the support you get throughout is fantastic.’

What is it about Muscle Food that’s worked for you?

‘The food tastes amazing, is nutritious and really filled me up. The variety is great too. I could choose from over 100 meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as picking three snacks a day. I loved the protein pizza and the recipe kits – where all the ingredients are pre-prepped, I just had to cook them. Everything can be cooked in minutes too which fitted in perfectly with my busy lifestyle. The exercise programme was also really straightforward and easy to follow. I was doing between three and four 30-minute HIIT sessions a week which I could do from home or at the gym.’

Prior to losing weight, have you always had problems with your size and weight?

‘I’ve been a bit of a yo-yo dieter over the years. I’d lose the weight easy enough but then it would creep back on. When the family joined Gogglebox, we were essentially paid to sit around and watch TV. That, coupled with my job as a chauffeur, didn’t really help my fitness levels. In 2015 I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and since then have become more conscious of my lifestyle choices – but that didn’t stop the weight creeping on and the blood test results getting worse. Discovering Do The Unthinkable came just at the right time for me.’

What was a typical day’s food for you before embarking on the plan?

‘My eating was all over the place. I’d eat when I found time and would buy whatever was available. Service stations were often where I’d get breakfast and lunch. The meals would be carb heavy with lots of sandwiches, crisps and fry-ups to start the day. Dinner would often be a huge portion of meat, potatoes and vegetables, and throughout the day I’d fill up on unhealthy snacks.’

And what’s a typical day’s meals like for you now?

‘Now, it’s completely different. I eat at regular times and if I know I’m going to be out of the road, will take something with me. Breakfast is generally porridge and fruit. Lunch will be chicken and vegetables and dinner is fish and vegetables or salad. I also have a healthy snack late morning, afternoon and evening.’

What was the catalyst that made you realise now was the time to change?

‘There were a couple of things. I was feeling unhealthy and my last set of blood tests for my diabetes showed the results going up. They need to be going down. I knew I had to do something fast to see an improvement in my health and wellbeing.’

As much fun as Gogglebox is, did this have an effect on your weight before?

‘Not really. I would have probably piled on the pounds whether I was doing Gogglebox or not. Being a chauffeur certainly played a part in the weight going on – it’s a sedentary job and being behind the wheel of a car makes it impossible to pop out for a quick walk. I was also grabbing meals on the go and making unhealthy choices.’

What would you say to male readers who feel they need to shift some weight?

‘The Musclefood Do The Unthinkable programme is well structured and easy to follow. That’s why this has worked for me. Having meals delivered chilled to your door takes away all the hassle of shopping and prepping the food and you know you’re eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet. The exercise is the same. All the hard work in planning the training has been done for you so you know it’s going to get the results you’re looking for. Give it a go – you won’t be disappointed.’

Want to know more? Visit https://www.musclefood.com/do-the-unthinkable

 

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