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Is that Jan Kees de Jager? We had to take a few good looks in the office to comprehend it. Former minister Jan Kees de Jager lost 50 kilos and has therefore almost unrecognizably changed. He shared his story with RTL Nieuws.
Jan Kees de Jager: “Something had to be done”
De Jager explains why he decided to do something about his weight of 125 kilos. That he needed to lose weight was no surprise. However, previous attempts failed or resulted in the well-known yo-yo effect. In a vitality conversation with his current employer KPN, his health was discussed. His high BMI classified him as severely overweight. Now, everyone can go ahead and debate BMI as a measuring tool, but De Jager himself did not doubt the conclusion: Something had to be done.
In fact, I still felt healthy at the time, so why would you? After that, everything went well for me, even though I had to keep doing a lot for it.
Gastric Bypass
In addition to the expected advice regarding diet and exercise, De Jager was advised to start with a
mini gastric bypass.
This is actually a variant of a gastric reduction, where food reaches the small intestine faster. You can then eat less, and your brain receives less signal that you are hungry.
Nowadays, I do need to take additional vitamins and minerals, but that can be done with just one pill a day. In one year, I lost about one kilo per week. Incidentally, such an operation is not a miracle cure, but merely a tool. You still have to do most of it yourself to maintain your new lifestyle.
I understand why De Jager feels the need to explain that after such a surgical procedure, it doesn’t happen automatically. If you have gone through such a heavy weight loss journey, it’s tough if your result is entirely attributed to the work of a surgeon. A bit like what weightlifters often feel when someone says their muscles come from a jar.
In the case of severe obesity, the body can severely hinder weight loss in various ways. Especially due to negative changes in metabolism. Coincidentally, I wrote yesterday about the conversion of white fat (fat storage) into brown fat (which can be burned to raise body temperature). This process is said to be inhibited in overweight people, making fat burning more difficult. So, if you have to lose 50 kilos for a healthy weight instead of 10 kilos, you not only have five times as much weight to lose. The loss of each kilo itself is also more difficult as your body returns to a normal metabolism. Apart from the greater effort it may take to bring about behavioral changes with such obesity. When it comes to weight loss with severe obesity, you could say that the first pounds weigh the heaviest. A ‘kickstart’ to make these major obstacles at the beginning of the long road to success a bit smaller greatly increases the chances.
Jan Kees de Jager = unrecognizable
In addition to the practical problem of a clothing size that changes every month and many suits that could only be worn for weeks, De Jager also had to take new photos. Among other things, for his passport. Handy that he is not recognized on the street so often anymore, he tells.
But that also applies to people who know me well and haven’t seen me for a year: I often have to reintroduce myself. This sometimes leads to funny situations.
Keep Moving
De Jager stays on weight, among other things, by incorporating exercise as much as possible into his daily routine. A tip that follows from several studies we have covered here on the site. It is wise not to impose on yourself to go to a gym three times a week if you have nothing to do with it like De Jager. If it comes to vitality and increasing heart rate, that is not necessary either. The former minister, for example, conducts some meetings while walking, but also ensures to get enough exercise with recreational activities such as cycling and swimming.
Regarding nutrition, it’s the old recipe: Healthier, less, more spread out.
The new Jan Kees de Jager
De Jager explains that he mainly took this path for his health and not for his appearance. He feels younger and even happier.
Congratulations!
Source
- Rtlnieuws.nl/nederland/politiek/oud-minister-jan-kees-de-jager-50-kilo-lichter-moet-me-vaak-opnieuw-voorstellen
