Imagine hitting rock bottom after decades of battling your weight, only to discover a simple £1.28 daily supplement that melts away 50kg without the gnawing hunger or endless exercise – and keeps it off for good! That's the astonishing turnaround for Steve Durrant, who went from feeling utterly defeated to reclaiming his health in ways he never thought possible.
Steve, a 63-year-old living in Port Kembla, Wollongong, Australia, reached his breaking point at 124kg (that's about 19st 7lb). He'd exhausted every avenue – from fad diets to pricey weight-loss injections – but nothing budged the needle. For 12 months, he battled with Ozempic, a medication originally meant for diabetes but sometimes used off-label for weight loss thanks to its active ingredient, semaglutide, which is also in drugs like Wegovy. 'I poured in about $4,000 Australian dollars – roughly £2,000 – and saw zero results,' Steve shared with Sun Health. 'It was a total letdown.'
But here's where it gets controversial... Steve didn't give up. He stumbled upon a program called Weigh Less With Jess and a budget-friendly supplement that finally turned things around. In just 50 days, he dropped an incredible 26kg (4st 1lb), and over time, shed a full 50kg (7st 12lb) to settle at 74kg (11st 9lb) – a weight he hadn't seen since he was 21, despite years of failed attempts with various diets and routines.
The kicker? He never felt hungry, thanks to that daily supplement, and he skipped exercise entirely because the plan is tailored for people with disabilities. No walking, no gym – just sticking to the guidelines. 'I tried juice cleanses, signed up for Jenny Craig multiple times (which cost a fortune), gulped down protein shakes, and even walked 7-10km daily, but my back would flare up badly,' Steve explained. His struggles started early, compounded by childhood habits like indulging in pizzas, fish and chips, and meat pies, plus a condition called gynecomastia – that's when men develop extra breast tissue due to hormonal imbalances, which can sometimes stem from genetics or medications. For beginners wondering about this, it's not the same as carrying extra fat around the chest; it's actual glandular tissue that might require medical advice, like from a doctor specializing in hormonal health.
And this is the part most people miss... Steve's weight yo-yoed for decades, peaking at 130kg (20st 6lb) in his late 40s. It stemmed from a mix of alcohol addiction, a music career that revolved around late-night kebabs and junk food, and a severe back injury from his teens that worsened after helping someone in a shopping center incident at age 30. 'I heard three pops in my back and intense pain hit me,' he recalled. Tests later revealed three ruptured discs in his lower back, ruling out surgery and leaving him bedridden some days. This spiral into depression, anxiety, and poor eating habits only piled on the pounds. At one point, his daily meals were a McDonald's breakfast, endless biscuits and snacks, and takeaway dinners – a recipe for disaster.
Health scares added fuel to the fire: pre-diabetes, shortness of breath, and a heart issue where one ventricle wasn't functioning right. A photo from a London trip in 2018, showing him with a walking stick on Millennium Bridge, was the wake-up call he needed. 'It was humiliating and heartbreaking,' Steve said. Coupled with long-term depression from his back problems, he felt trapped, unable to do the things he loved with his wife, mother-in-law, daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren.
Desperate, Steve turned to weight-loss injections again after dietitians and doctors couldn't help. Ozempic and later Saxenda (another pricey option, costing four times more) failed him over 18 months. 'I was eating hardly anything – just chicken breast and veggies – yet the scale wouldn't move,' he admitted. 'The specialists ran blood tests but came up empty. I was exhausted from diet fatigue and ready to quit.'
Then came his last-ditch effort: Spotting Weigh Less With Jess near the chemist, he gave it a shot. Skeptical but out of options, he confided in Jess, who assured him the system would work. The starter pack was just $140 (£69), with no ongoing fees. 'In the first week, I lost 7kg (1st 1lb),' Steve noted. 'By day 50, it was 26kg total.'
Jess Arroyo's program, designed after her own post-baby weight struggles, has aided over 160,000 people from Australia to India and the Middle East. It follows a 1950s protocol by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons, originally for pre-surgery weight loss in non-exercisable patients. The cycle is 50 days of weight loss (aiming for 1kg or 2.2lb per day) followed by 50 days of maintenance, repeatable as needed. For those new to this, think of it as a structured reset: focus on whole foods, avoid processed junk, and rebuild your metabolism gradually to dodge rebound weight gain.
No exercise required – ideal for Steve's back. He ditched junk food and cooked from scratch, hitting 100g of protein per meal (like chicken, prawns, beef, or tofu). Meals included chili con carne, chicken curries, or salads. The 50-day maintenance phase is a 'reverse diet' to gently ramp up calories and stabilize metabolism, preventing the body from fighting further loss.
But the game-changer was the herbal soft-gel capsules ($129 or £63.90 for 50 days), packed with natural ingredients like amino acids, vitamins, and plant-based actives. Examples include rhodiola rosea (an adaptogen that might help with stress and fatigue), astragalus membranaceus (often used in traditional medicine for energy), and green tea extract (known for its potential fat-burning properties in some studies). Steve praised it: 'The supplement made all the difference – no hunger, better sleep (from 4-5 hours to 8-9 nightly), and no side effects. I feel calmer and more energetic.'
Nearly two years later, Steve's at 81kg (12st 10lb), having maintained most of his loss. 'I'm healthier, junk food tastes awful now, and I've pinpointed triggers like bread and milk. This program genuinely works – don't hesitate to try it.'
Now, let's talk supplements for weight loss. Experts at Fresh Fitness Food suggest options like magnesium glycinate, found in foods such as beans, seeds, nuts, and dark chocolate. This mineral aids sleep regulation, which is crucial for fat loss – poor sleep can spike hunger hormones and lead to poor choices. Probiotics from fermented foods like kimchi or yogurt boost gut health, helping digestion and reducing bloating that might hide progress. Protein powder ensures satiety, preserving muscle during weight loss. But remember, these are aids, not magic.
Yet, UK nutritionist Robert Hobson cautions against relying solely on pills. 'Sustainable change comes from healthier eating habits and routines, not quick fixes,' he warns. 'In Australia, these products only need to prove safety at the dose, not efficacy for weight loss. Ingredients like these lack strong evidence for fat burning, so results might stem from the diet itself. Invest in long-term plate changes for real success.'
What do you think – is this supplement a breakthrough for those who've failed everything else, or just another overhyped remedy? Could programs like this democratize weight loss for people with disabilities, or do they risk misleading the vulnerable? Share your opinions in the comments – do you agree with Steve's success story, or do you see red flags?
