Jennifer knew something needed to change after her GP said she was morbidly obese, so she tried a health and fitness app that completely transformed her life
Weight loss journeys are often fraught with emotional and physical challenges as people grapple with body changes and the psychological effects of dieting and scale-watching. However, a growing number of people are shifting to health coaching apps like Simple, which swaps traditional calorie counting and restrictive diets for a more nurturing strategy.
Simple uses AI to provide bespoke dietary advice and encourages lifestyle tweaks – strategies that enabled Jennifer, a mother of two, to shed an impressive 2.8 stone (17.7kg) in four months. Recalling her motivation, Jennifer said: “After one of our trips last year, we came back home and started going through some photos and I realised just how much I had let myself go.
“I was absolutely horrified, to say the least. I did have a doctors appointment coming up. I got on the scale for the first time in a long time and realised I was weighing 205lbs, which… jaw to floor, I was mortified. I am only five foot one, so you can imagine.”
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As reported by The Mirror, A doctor’s visit turned into a pivotal moment for Jennifer as she explained: “My doctor went ahead and put on my chart that I was now considered morbidly obese, which scared me to death. You hear those words… the word morbid is very, very scary and having other comorbidities coming with that is very, very scary as well. I just decided I’ve got to do something.
“I have tried different kinds of workouts, different routines, different diets, and I don’t stick to them. I was very sceptical from my past experiences and I also had an injury to my left knee. The first couple of days were so hard – I’m a stay-at-home mom, the kids are at home and want to snack all day. I would do the same. I was an emotional eater – if I was depressed, or anxious, I would immediately go to that.”
However, her outlook shifted when she stumbled upon an advert for the Simple app on social media claiming the advantages of intermittent fasting. As she decided to try it, she mentioned: “With the app it made everything so simple. I check in in the morning, there’s reminders all the time, I can find out when my next fast is, when I should be eating, you get tips on a daily basis, different things that you can swap out.”
The feature she loves most is the app’s integrated AI software that acts like a personal assistant, particularly for dining out choices. She said: “One of my absolute favourite parts of the app is they have an integrated AI software where you can just ask questions. If you go to a restaurant, it takes out all your guessing work.”
Jennifer attributes the Simple app as a significant factor in shedding 2.8 stone, which took her out of the morbidly obese classification. Her satisfaction with the application doesn’t end there: “This app has been absolutely life changing for me. It just made everything so simple, I can actually do things I love to do…like a long walk with my kid.”
In a move to attract more users, Simple is extending an exclusive offer reducing the subscription cost from £29.99 down to £17.99 per month with the code REACH60. This is marks a 60% discount on a 28-day bespoke exercise programme, which comes complete with monitoring tools and personalised tips on intermittent fasting as well as healthy eating advice.
The app features Avo, an AI coach that tailors recipe ideas specifically for users, something that was integral to another member, Chris, who lost an impressive 20kg. He praised the feature, saying he ‘loved the recipes’.
Though these aren’t meal kits like Gousto or Hello Fresh, the app offers precise ingredient lists for preparing fresh meals at home. Simple user Danielle also attributes her remarkable weight loss of 27.8kg (48lbs) to the app, expressing gratitude by saying: “I give all credit to Simple. Having an AI coach right there, any time I needed, whatever time of day, helped me more than anything else.”
For Matt, using the Simple app proved transformative; it’s been ‘a game-changer’ in his life, helping him shed 25.8kg (57lbs). Matt credits the app with helping him establish consistency in his lifestyle changes.
With a 4.2-star average on Trustpilot and 58% of reviews being five-star, users commend the app as one of the ‘best fasting apps’ they’ve experienced. One user said: “I’ve tried multiple fasting apps, but this one truly stands out.”
Another said: “Since using this app, I’ve noticed better energy levels, improved focus, and even weight loss. The educational content is also a great bonus, helping me understand the science behind fasting.”
One satisfied user hailed it as the ‘best decision they ever made’, writing: “I finally have a healthy relationship with food, I’ve lost 15 pounds in my first month using this simple app, and it was surprisingly easy.”
Another fan praised the ‘coach tracker’ feature but admitted to finding the app somewhat challenging to navigate: “I like the coach feature in this and the food logging by scanning or speaking but I find it confusing on how to use it. I feel it would be better to just have a calendar day click on that and have that all there.”
A fourth user hailed it as ‘the best app‘, enthusing: “So helpful, easy to be able to scan meals to show ingredients. I have never stuck to anything so long before, has now become a way of life.”
The testimonials featured are from real users who have been compensated for their honest feedback. Results may vary.
You can read The Mirror’s review of the Simple app here. There are other apps available too, such as Hevy, which allows you to track workouts – it’s free with in-app purchases.
For food tracking, the basic version of MyFitnessPal is also free, though some features are locked behind a paywall. If you’re interested in utilising the AI assistant Avo along with other features, you can try Simple here, with a generous 60% discount when you use the code REACH60.
