June Member of the Month - Peter Guldentops

Posted 13 May 2009

You may remember Peter Guldentops from the Letter from the Bug when we published the fantastic email he wrote us detailing all the positive changes Fitbug had brought to his life and lifestyle. At 49 he’s still in the prime of his life with a busy work schedule, but that doesn’t stop him from reaching all Fitbug targets and taking control of his life.

What attracted you to Fitbug?
The reason I loved Fitbug from the first day, is that it fits the business concept of, 'if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.' This was one of the biggest appeals for me. It’s simple; you’ve had too many calories? Then add more steps. A year later, I am still using the Fitbug website and my fitness control panel that tells me where I stand against my objectives. I'm also using my Fitbug as my fitness buddy that I always with me to keep track of how I am doing. In fact, I feel very competitive towards him!

What did/do you hope to accomplish?
My immediate goal was to drop just over a stone, to take me to the same weight I was when I was 25. Don’t we all want to be forever young! I did it in only a month. I can measure and manage - done.

The second thing I wanted to manage was the fact that with a demanding job, I was experiencing a lot of mental fatigue at the end of the day and I wanted physical fatigue instead.

How has your life changed?
Fitbug is a good companion, with set measurable goals. If I look back over the past year, I’ve been taking 27,000-28,000 steps a day, which seems like a lot, but now comes naturally.

I live in Surrey and I’ve seen such lovely places, I go on four to five-hour walks, taking loads of pictures, enjoying nature, walking the dogs.

And when I go on holiday, I take some really nice walks and see more than I’d otherwise have seen. It widens the horizon - I very much feel that I have accomplished being a part of nature instead of being just a brick in the city.

I’ve also cut out all unnecessary car usage and public transport. I no longer use the car at all to drive to the station and instead of taxis I walk to meetings. You can organise this. I get up earlier, but gladly do it if it has this effect.

How do you feel?
Just a year ago, I had an annual check up and everything was fine, but this year when I went back again, the doctor said 'what have you been doing this year? I can see from the blood work, you’re in great shape and you’ve got the lungs of a 25-year old!' That just proves what Fitbug can do.

What have you gained?
One thing specific, people don’t like to hear it but, bar some illnesses or conditions you’re born with, you can take your life into your own hands. Fitbug can help by being this measurement, it’s not wishy-washy. Fitbug is very 'if you do this, then that will happen.' A normal healthy person can actually really take their life in their own hands, lose weight, get fit and healthy and enjoy it too. For me in that sense, with my annual check up that the doctor saw the changes was further proof; I didn’t even need to tell him. I like the sense of control and the knowledge that my actions will have precisely the effect predicted by Fitbug. And so indeed, I was able to drop a stone in a very controlled manner and to be a visibly healthy man notwithstanding all the vices that surround all of us.

What’s your advice to other Fitbug members?
Really believe that you can take your life in your own hands and go for it. You do have it in control. Remember, calories in and calories out. And yes, the Fitbug is contagious.

Peter skiing

As this month's star member Peter receives a gorgeous Molton Brown gift set. If you'd like to feature as our member of the month - or if you know someone that deserves to -

send us your story!