Still kicking

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When we first met David Provest he had stripped off 4kg and a couple of trouser sizes on the Kick-Start plan. Now we check in on him a month later to see how he's going.

After two months on the Kick-Start plan Mr Provest is still kicking goals: he's now lost 13kg, down to 79kg from his starting weight of 92kg.

"It's much more than soup," he said.

"The biggest thing for me has been the lifestyle change. I think of things before I put them in my mouth and the exercise - I've really worked hard for the last eight weeks."

Because of his success, we entered Mr Provest in Sydney radio station 2GB's obesity challenge - and he won.

He beat Weight Watchers, Gloria Marshall and other diets to take out the challenge, all thanks to Kick-Start.

Stage one is that magical soup for seven days, then it's on to a sensible eating program and exercise.

Dietician Geraldine Georgeou has been guiding our Kick-Starters on their path to long-term healthy eating, showing them how to select lean proteins such as lean red meat.

"Finally they are looking at the function of food in their diet," she said.

"We are looking at lean, mean fighting proteins, looking at slow acting carbohydrates."

But what are those carbohydrates?

Ms Georgeou recommends wholegrain bread, good old porridge and if you need to eat potatoes, leave them in their jackets.

Remember Allison Streher? Once weighing in at 110kg and a size 20, she's now dropped three dress sizes to a size 14, weighing 90kg.

Ms Streher says she won't stop till she's a size 12.

Like Mr Provest, Ms Streher made the changes to low-glycemic index foods.

"I am staying away from a lot of processed foods, so it's fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, fresh meats," she said.

And that's the key: complimenting those low-GI foods with lean, mean, fat-fighting protein, healthy doses of meat, chicken and fish.

As your waist size spirals down, the benefit is not just in being able to fit into this year's swimsuit or wear that jacket that's has been hanging up in the wardrobe for the last 12 months; beating the belly bulge has so many other ongoing health benefits.

The Kick-Start is truly a phenomenon and it's already happening in the US, where they call it the South Beach Diet.

Now get set for Kick-Start for summer.

Until they Kick-Started, Laurie and Bill Bovis' diet consisted of fast food: burgers, fries for lunch and TV dinners but they're just into the final leg of phase one.

Mrs Bovis has lost 4kg in less than two weeks but wants to lose another 10kg, while Mr Bovis has lost 2.5kg and wants to lose five more.

Click on the link below for the complete Kick-Start plan, including meal planners, recipes and chat transcripts.''Disclaimer
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