LAURA BAKER
Last updated13:35, May 12 2017
ALDEN WILLIAMS/Stuff.co.nz
Christchurch man Noel Ofa has lost 115kg.
A Christchurch man has shedmore than 100 kilogramsin just eight months after making dramatic changes to his lifestyle all on his own.
At his heaviest Noel Ofa weighed 220kg. "When Iwent to the doctor a year back I maxed out the scale, so I had to stand on two [scales] and even then Imaxedthem both."
Ofais unrecognisable after losing a mammoth 115kg.
An incredible weight loss transformation has seen Noel Ofa lose 115kg. He is now unrecognisable.
Friends and family who haven'tseen himin several months "get a shock", he says.
"They are shocked at how quickly Idropped the weight.I'm even shocked."
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ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ
Noel Ofa has lost a mammoth 115kg in just eight months.
In September last yearthe 37-year-old quithis old, "lazy" lifestyle fuelled byfast food to change his lifefor good. Today, he's educating friends and work colleagues about health and fitness.
"I was addicted to food," Ofa says. "I lovedfast food takeaways. I'd eat them three times a day.The yummierthe food, the more I'd eat. That's the problem with our culture,Tongansjust love food."
ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ
Ofa holds the pants that he wore when he tipped the scale at 220kg.
In a normal day before hislifestyle change, Ofa would eat 20 chicken bites for breakfast, drink a 1.5-litre bottle of fizzyat lunch and have afast food family feast for dinner.
With the weight came numerous health problems. He had diabetes,gout,kidney stones, high blood pressure,headaches and insomnia.
He took six pills a day to treat his conditions, but now all of those problems are gone. "I feel totally different."
At 17yearsold hewas awarded a rugby scholarship and movedfrom Tonga to New Zealand to play first XV rugby.
Shortly after the move he suffered aspinal cord injury while playing,bringing a halt to his active lifestyle. He stopped working out and "started eating".
In recent years he has tried several times to "get motivated", but after a few weeks of eating healthy he would return to his old ways. "But this time was different.I wanted to change my life."
ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ
He spends more than three hours in the gym every day, often visiting twice.
Throughout his journey a lot of factorshave given himthe strength and willpower to make alasting change.
From his family who help to cook healthy food, to his work mates who compliment him and hisidolDwayne Johnsonwho he aspires to.
"The one motivation that Idon't talk much about is the power of prayer. Ibelieve in God . . .I prayed for the strength to resist the temptation offast food andfor the the energy to go back to the gym after Ifinishwork.
ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ
Ofa has beat his fast food addict thanks to his strong mindset.
"But at the end of the dayit camedown to me, whether I wanted to change or not. That was the main thing, Iwanted to change.
"Now someone can eat KFC right next to meand it doesn't bother me. I'll eat an orange instead."
A typical workday routine sees him wake at 7am, and eat oats and fruit for breakfast. After dropping his children off at schoolhe hits the gym for three hours before starting work at midday.Most nights he'll head back to the gym after work at 10pm.
ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ
He is now inspiring friends to join the gym and gets a kick out of showing them the ropes.
During the day he'll eat up to 16 boiled eggs, a roast chicken and plenty of fresh fruit.
"Ifind it hard when people ask me what my goal weight is. Idon't have one, it was never about the weight on the scale. Iexercise because it'swhat Ilove.
"Many people ask me when my cheat day is and Isay to them 'Idon't have a cheat day or a cheat meal'. This is a lifestyle change, Idon't want to eat bad.
"I think weight loss is just a good side effect of having a good lifestyle."
A lot of people ask Ofa for the secret to his rapid weight loss. In return, he asks them to join him at hisgym, Anytime Fitness,so he can show them his workout routine.He's now motivated a number of work colleaguesto join the gym.
But in total honesty he says the gym isn't his secret, it'shis mindset.
"I think the mostimportant thing is to be your own inspiration. People wait for something else or someone else to inspire them to take that first step.
"Iam my own inspiration. I did it. I am my own hero. Once you become your own inspirationit comes from within you."
Throughout his lifestyle journey Ofa hasdone a lot of reading and research to learn about "theright food to eat to keepfull andwhat exercise to do to loseweight faster".
-Stuff
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Fast-food addict lost 115kg in 8 months - Stuff.co.nz
