In just six months Aussie scientist Steve, 55, shed over 40kg naturally by following ONE simple rule
A Brisbane father-of-two has revealed how he shed an incredible 40.5kg in just six months – and has kept it off for over a year.
Steve Smith, 55, a research scientist, said he went from being ‘big Steve’ to fitter, healthier and more energetic than he has been in decades, after joining a science-backed programme to drop the kilos.
‘I started at 148.5kg and now I’m sitting around 108kg,’ he told the Daily Mail.
‘I got a fair bit lower around 103.5kg, but now I’ve stabilised and have kept it off for a year so far.’
Steve admitted the turning point came when he moved back to Brisbane alone for work, while his wife and two daughters remained in Austria.
‘I was just sick of being “big Steve”, he explained. ‘I thought there was more to me than that.
‘My physical and mental health was very low, and I needed to prove I could set goals, stick to them and be my best self for me and my family.’
He used the six months of separation to make a dramatic change in his life and was motivated by becoming ‘a better person’ by the time he saw his family again.
Brisbane father-of-two, Steve Smith (pictured), has revealed how he shed an incredible 40.5kg in just six months – and has kept it off for over a year
The research scientist, 55, says he went from being ‘big Steve’ to fitter, healthier and more energetic than he has been in decades
It was at that time he decided to ditch the notion of fad diets and get-slim-quick ploys, and signed up to The Fast 800 Programme instead.
The Fast 800 was co-founded by the late Dr Michael Mosley and his wife Dr Clare Bailey Mosley and is based on decades of medical research into weight loss, longevity and long-term health.
The programme offers meal plans, 800+ recipes, shopping lists, home workouts, health coach support and online tracking tools.
Steve said its evidence-based approach was a major drawcard.
‘I’m a scientist myself, so I had some knowledge of [what was] being spoken about and it made sense to me,’ he said.
Before taking the leap, Steve looked at all of the evidence that was supplied on the website, which impressed and enticed him to try it for himself.
He initially committed to ‘The Very Fast 800’, which tracked his intake of around 900 calories a day for 12 weeks, before transitioning into the programme’s ‘The Way of Life’ programme to maintain his weight.
At his heaviest, Steve said even simple things felt impossible: ‘I was just not a happy person in the body I was in.
Steve admitted the turning point came when he moved back to Brisbane alone for work, while his wife and two daughters remained in Austria
At his heaviest of 148.5kg, Steve admitted his physical and mental health was ‘very low’, so he set new goals to stick to so he could be his best self for both him and his family
‘It’s just uncomfortable being that big,’ he confessed.
‘Even simple things like sitting in an airline seat when you’re all crammed in, or getting in and out of the car, [are] not easy,’ complaining that he was even out of breath by climbing a flight of stairs.
But within weeks of adapting his eating patterns, he felt different.
‘I just started to feel healthier and fitter,’ he expressed. ‘Bending down to tie up shoelaces used to be such a chore, and balance was an issue, but that resolved itself really quickly.’
Today, he plays touch football, goes running, hikes, and even donates blood – something his weight and high blood pressure once prevented him from doing.
He said even simple things felt impossible: ‘It’s just uncomfortable being that big’
It was January 2024 when he decided to ditch the notion of fad diets and get-slim-quick ploys, and signed up to The Fast 800 Programme – a science-backed lifestyle platform backed by medical research into weight loss, longevity and long-term health
‘My heart pressure and BMI have finally come into acceptable ranges [too].
‘I’d been kidding myself for a long time that my blood pressure wasn’t an issue – even though it was up high around 160/110mmHg,’ he said.
After starting the programme, Steve’s blood pressure quickly decreased, now sitting at a much more comfortable 120/80mmHg.
Despite all his hard work and determination, Steve said the most rewarding moment came when he flew back to Austria to collect his family.
‘They didn’t really figure that I’d change completely,’ he joked.
Some of Steve’s favourite nutritious meals were international dishes like Lamb Keema Matar (pictured)
He also credited his success to making simple workouts enjoyable again, as well as having much-needed community support from experts and like-minded members
‘So, when I walked out of the airport in Vienna, they were just all like, “my god, who is this guy?” That was really satisfying.’
Unlike fad diets, Steve said the programme didn’t feel like torture and was ‘easy to stick to’ because it didn’t require a drastic upheaval of his life – or hunger pangs.
He also credited the easy-to-follow app, recipes and workouts for keeping him motivated long after the rapid weight loss phase.
‘I love how you can set your meal plan for the following week and then a shopping list is created for you.’
His favourite nutritious meals were the international dishes – in particular the Lamb Keema Matar.
For those wanting to follow in his footsteps, Steve’s message is simple: ‘Forget the fear that starting has to be a huge upheaval to your life.’
He also credited his success to making simple workouts enjoyable again, as well as having much-needed community support from experts and like-minded members.
