Shedding weight is often fraught with challenges, especially when faced with a torrent of mixed messages and so-called advice from health ‘gurus’ on social media. With diets ranging from Atkins to intermittent fasting, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of dietary dos and don’ts. However, one mother-of-three has managed to successfully shift four stone utilising the Simple app, despite the demands of her busy family life. Makeda, once weighing 18.5 stone (117.5kg) following the birth of her twins, was also juggling the responsibilities of caring for an under-five daughter. Driven by her children, she made a commitment to slim down to 14 stone (88kg). Makeda, from London, said: “I had got up to about 18.5 stone. I am very happy to be a mum, but I just really felt the pressure. I had gained a lot of weight. It’s the heaviest I’d ever been, and I was just always in a lot of pain. I had a lot of joint pain and back pain, and I just felt like I just couldn’t keep up.” READ MORE: Sarah J Maas fans can get A Court of Thorns and Roses free on Audible READ MORE: Non-greasy SPF that’s ‘anti-blemish’ gives clearer skin and ‘more confidence’ Focusing on more than just her appearance, she said: “And one of the goals for me was, yes, I wanted to lose the weight and I wanted to feel good in my body, but I also wanted to feel strong in my body. I wanted to know that if one of the twins needed picking up, I could carry both of them at the same time or push the double buggy and carry my other daughter.” Before stumbling upon Simple – a health app which supports nutrition tracking and facilitates intermittent fasting – Makeda had been through an array of unsuccessful diets. Recounting her experience, she said: “I really was just struggling. Struggling to form any form of habit, and I tried all the diets, every diet I tried it, and I would do really well for maybe the first week, two weeks, maybe even a month, but I just realised it wasn’t bespoke to me and my lifestyle,” reports Birmingham Live . Makeda sensed these diet plans were trying unsuccessfully to categorise her lifestyle needs. She said: “It was kind of like these diets were trying to fit me into a particular category, and it just didn’t work. I just couldn’t be consistent with it.” While balancing her commitments to her occupational therapy course and parenting responsibilities, Makeda eventually made headway in losing weight by making small yet impactful changes to her daily habits, thanks to the Simple app . The app is currently offering a generous 60% discount using the promo code REACH60. Simple’s AI coaching app tailors individualised weight loss plans that consider a person’s lifestyle, activity level, health goals and desired timeline. It encourages a balanced diet approach, ensuring long-term sustainability while still allowing users to indulge in their favourite treats occasionally. Makeda discovered that the Simple app’s tailored diet regime, which may include intermittent fasting – eating healthful meals within certain hours and abstaining for the remainder – has empowered her to transform her eating patterns and revamp her way of life. She said: “I didn’t change my lifestyle too much, other than I was just really enthusiastic to move my body more. I woke up when I woke up, I was pain-free, and full transparency, there were times when I stopped using the app. You know, and my weight fluctuated due to starting studying or due to stress or just life in general. But the really nice thing was I could always come back to it, come back to it, have a reset, and then get back on program.” In addition to Simple, Makeda praised Avo, an integrated AI-powered app designed to facilitate exercise planning and dietary scheduling while also issuing fasting reminders. Simple raises the bar by enabling users to track their grub with simple photo snaps, which are then smartly computed into a score reflecting the meal’s nutritional value. Talking about the app’s features, Makeda praised: “The AI really is very, very intuitive, it really works for you. You get your reminders, you get the support, but it’s very much for you. So I really, I really like that aspect of it.” She added: “What makes me really happy now is I go out, take walks, I hike, I go on adventures with my daughters, and I have enough strength and stamina and resilience to do that.” The online world offers numerous weight loss apps, including alternatives to Simple . For instance, Lifesum – a free app to download – empowers users to monitor their daily food intake by calculating calories and macros, providing consumption advice, as well as boasting a feature that facilitates intermittent fasting schedules. In comparison, Noom , a separate weight loss application, specialises in nurturing holistic lifestyle transformations alongside principles of behavioural psychology, equipping users with customised guidance and professional support. However, Simple scores a reputable 4.3 rating, after gathering over 30,217 reviews from Trustpilot. One of the numerous positive reviewers voiced their satisfaction, saying: “Easy to use, not about calories about healthy eating and no guilt.” Echoing the optimistic experience, another reviewer credited Simple with her positive journey: “I initially joined Simple for the wall Pilates programme but have really enjoyed the food nutrition guidance and the fasting advice.. I have lost weight, I’m eating healthier and am enjoying the workouts!” A further review praised the AI, saying: “Without a doubt, AI has been a great experience. I never would have believed that a computer-generated person would be of so much help! But here we are in a new world of possibilities. This might be the best money I’ve ever spent. I thank you.” Some responses, however, weren’t entirely positive, with one individual experiencing complications: “So far I’m losing weight by being accountable and intentional about my food choices. I’m not very good with technology, so navigating the Simple program is challenging. I’ll get better going forward.” Simple is offering a significant discount at the moment, with a 60% reduction using the code REACH60. It’s important to note that this isn’t medical advice but rather personal experiences shared by individuals. Results can differ from person to person. Always consult a healthcare professional for any medical concerns.