Hi, my name is Ward Roef. I am obsessed with daily habits and here you can read my journey.
Why did I ever start this, more than 10 years ago? My story begins in September 2015, when I took a flight to the United States to test a major project at the manufacturer's site. It was a significant delivery involving a new type of display, and I wanted to personally oversee the testing in the factory. I was delivering two large full-color LED displays to a new automotive factory and also working on two large LED displays for Mercedes on a Sprinter.
After spending a week in the United States, having productive meetings with the manufacturer, and testing all the devices, I headed back to Belgium. I had booked a sort of economy plus ticket - not business class, but a standard ticket with a slight upgrade for more comfort to work on my laptop. The seat next to me was empty, which seemed odd at first. Then, a commotion at the front of the plane caught my attention, and I saw a flight attendant checking for available seats. She informed me someone would sit next to me, and that's when a very large person, over 150 kilos, was assigned the seat beside me. This person didn't fit well in the seat, making the 10-hour flight quite uncomfortable for both of us. This experience was so distressing that I later filed a complaint, suggesting that individuals who cannot comfortably fit in one seat should purchase two for everyone's comfort.
At that time, I weighed 105 kilos myself, having been slender throughout my youth. Though I had already made some healthy changes, like quitting soda and energy drinks, my weight continued to increase. This uncomfortable flight experience served as a wake-up call. I was frustrated every time I looked in the mirror, feeling that returning to my earlier weight was impossible. But by my 50th birthday, I realized I didn't want to continue on this path. I wanted to change, not only for my physical health but for my overall wellbeing.
So, I started a comprehensive plan, first consulting my doctor to ensure my approach was safe. Despite my doctor's skepticism, I lost ten kilos within a month, surprising both of us. Three months later, I was down to 75 kilos. However, I knew that shock therapy wasn't a sustainable approach. Maintaining this healthier lifestyle required developing a method through habits to automate healthy eating and exercise, as well as other areas of life like safety, learning, communication, and finances.
Today, more than 10 years later, I still weigh around 75 kg. I want to help others develop a method through habits to automate healthy choices in nutrition and exercise, as well as in other aspects of their lives.
