“It’s just been a total eye-opener – and this is from someone that has tried every single diet under the sun.”
Tracey McAvoy, who lives on the edge of the Peak District, weighed in at 22.5 stone at her heaviest and admits it was “not something (she was) proud of”. Ashamed that she once said she needed an “extendable seatbelt” when travelling by plane, Tracey lost six stone after turning to a weight loss app she credits with making her “healthier” and “happier”.
Simple is a clinically proven weight loss tool which has helped users lose more than 18 million pounds collectively, and it is currently offering new users 80% off. Tracey credits the Simple app with helping her completely change her lifestyle, after overeating and a lack of movement contributed to her weight gain.
Looking back at how she reached 22.5 stone, Tracey blames ‘overeating and no movement. She said: “I was a pig, I was lazy, I was addicted to food. I’d go to bed and then get up at 11 o’clock at night and have four bags of crisps, or make myself some cheese on toast.”
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She added: “Enjoyed that, and then I’d make myself some more. I loved food, loved it, it was everything to me. (But with) Simple, it has just changed my life completely and retrained my brain. (I have) lost loads of weight and stopped taking half the medication I was on.”
To get started, users simply take a quick quiz, and Simple then creates a personalised weight loss plan based on their answers. The app includes a range of tools to help users stay on track, including food logging via typing, voice or photos, an intermittent fasting tracker and NutriScanner, which helps users better understand the nutritional content of their meals.
Simple is available on the app store
Simple is designed around changing everyday habits rather than calorie counting, cutting out essential food groups or weighing every bite.
It also offers daily workout plans covering activities including yoga, Pilates, HIIT, walking and Tai Chi, making it easy to build more movement into a daily routine.
Better still, users can presently save 80% on the app’s weight loss programmes by using the code REACH. After subscribing, there’s also a two-for-one offer allowing users to share their Simple premium with someone they choose – at no extra charge, reports the Mirror.
Tracey reveals that she began her weight loss journey on January 4 and, despite feeing like she was “ready for giving up”, has since shed six stone. While she acknowledges she still has a “long way to go”, she’s relishing a “new way of eating (and) a new way of living”..
Tracey recalls, “Rewind to last year, we went to Turkey. I always hated flying and I had to ask for an extendable seatbelt, I couldn’t walk, I had a chronically bad back, and I was taking about 10 tablets a day for diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol. (Now), I feel like I’ve had a brain transplant. My whole life is different.
“I’m healthier, I’m happier, I look better, I feel better. Everyone says I look younger, my skin’s better, my hair’s more healthy. It’s just been a total eye-opener – and this is from someone that has tried every single diet under the sun.”
One of the standout features with Simple is the in-app coach, Avo. Powered by AI, Avo is a personal wellness assistant which can answer questions straightaway, meaning users have 24/7 access to wellbeing and fitness advice whenever it’s needed.
For extra encouragement, the app also has an emotional support feature called Blinky. Described as a furry friend, Blinky celebrates when users log their meals, sulks when they don’t and even “spirals” when ignored.
Tracey says she “kept asking Avo for different recipes” and healthier alternatives to some of her favourite foods. She says she is no longer “addicted to food anymore” and would recommend Simple to others looking to make a change.
However, Simple states that the real users featured in its testimonials have been compensated for sharing their honest experiences, and results can vary from person to person.
Another option is Lifesum, which lets users track meals and snacks while providing nutritional and calorie information in the app to support weight loss. There is a free version available, while premium plans range from £7.49 a month to around £50 a year.
Another alternative is MyFitnessPal, which has more than 280 million members and allows users to track their food while keeping an eye on calories, macronutrients and micronutrients. The basic version is free, while premium plans start at £79.99 a year or £19.99 a month.
Simple has also received plenty of feedback from users on Trustpilot, where it currently has an overall rating of 4.3 out of five stars, classed as “Excellent”. One reviewer said: “Simple has made it easy to stay on track for losing weight, slimming down my shape, and becoming healthier. The plan is created upon individual lifestyles, is easy to follow, and promotes healthy eating.”
Another user wrote: “This has been so helpful with my fasting and I love my AI coach. Definitely worth the money.”
However, not everyone was as impressed. One reviewer said: “I’m learning some things about nutrition and I am allowing myself to be accountable to some degree. However, my very much varied schedule does not permit me to follow much of the advice.”
Overall, most were pleased. Another user wrote: “Love this program, easy to follow and I look forward to doing it everyday. Simple is the way to go.”
Customers can snap up 80% off Simple’s weight loss plans using the code REACH.