I Like to Move It - Reel 2 Reel

64lbs down in six months: How accountability changed everything…

So, six months in on Andy Callaghan’s transformation I thought I’d update you on his progress. As a coach, I've learned that most people don't struggle because they lack information. They know what they should be eating. They know they should exercise more. They know they need to lose weight.

What they often lack is accountability.

Andy is a perfect example of what can happen when someone commits fully to the process and becomes accountable for their actions.

Earlier this year, he was preparing for one of the toughest endurance events on the planet – the Marathon des Sables. For those unfamiliar with the race, it's a multi-stage ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert, covering approximately 250 kilometres in extreme heat. It demands exceptional physical and mental preparation.

The problem was that despite his training, it was his health that was holding him back.

During the required medical examination needed to take part in the race, he was told that his blood pressure was too high to be signed off for the event. It was a crushing blow. I know, I was there when it happened. Months of preparation suddenly looked like they could be wasted. The race he'd committed to and dreamed about completing was at risk before he'd even reached the start line.

So, after a chat with the medical team and myself, he joined my ULTRAdiet programme.

From day one, we focused on creating a simple, sustainable plan. There were no fad diets, no starvation tactics and no unrealistic expectations. Instead, we concentrated on building better habits, improved food choices and greater consistency.

 

Most importantly, we created accountability.

Each week we’ve checked in. Each week we’ve seen progress. Each week we’ve discussed what’s gone well, where improvements could be made and how to stay focused on the bigger picture - The Marathon des Sables Legendary 2027.

You see, something remarkable happens when you know someone is working with you.

Decisions become more deliberate. Excuses become harder to justify. The small choices that often derail progress begin to disappear.

And as the weeks have passed by, the results speak for themselves.

The weights come off, and his energy levels have improved. Most importantly, his health markers have begun to swing in the right direction. And in six months, he’s lost an incredible 64lbs.

No, it’s no typo. Sixty-four pounds gone in just six months without the use of Mounjaro or Ozempic.

But what impressed me most, wasn't the weight loss itself. It’s his mindset shift. He’s embraced the new daily habits and took ownership for his actions. The result was not only a dramatic physical transformation but also a significant improvement in his blood pressure.

His story is a reminder that success rarely comes from finding the perfect diet. It comes from consistency, commitment and accountability.

The ULTRAdiet programme isn't just about losing weight. It's about helping people regain control of their health, build confidence and achieve goals they once thought were out of reach.

For Andy, 64lbs of weight loss isn’t the real victory.

The real victory will be earning his place at the start line of the Marathon des Sables next year and proving to himself that he was capable of far more than he ever imagined. And there’s still a way to go on his weight-loss journey!

Now, you don’t have to sign up for the ‘World’s Toughest Footrace’ or want to become the next Paula Radcliffe or Sir Mo Farah – but you might just want to reverse some years of self-neglect and want to start living a much healthier lifestyle.

And if that’s you – contact me – as you never know where a fresh outlook on life will take you with some accountability.

1,249 Marathons - 292 Ultras - 10 Guinness World Records - 19 MDS - 1 Life

Come together - The Beatles

 

200 Days to MDS Legendary 2027 - Your journey starts in London.

In 200 days’ time, runners from all over the world will stand on the start line of MDS Legendary 2027, ready to take on one of the greatest endurance challenges on the planet – the Marathon des Sables, widely known as “The World’s Toughest Footrace.”

If you’re one of them, your preparation starts now.

And there could be no better place to begin than at the MDS EXPO in London on Saturday 26th September, at the Victory Services Club, starting at 9am.

The MDS is about far more than simply learning to run across the Sahara.

It’s about understanding the environment. Learning how to manage your feet, your food, your hydration, your kit and your pace. It’s about knowing what happens when the temperature rises, your shoulders hurt, your feet are sore and you still have hours ahead of you.

Most importantly, it’s about arriving at that start line believing that you belong there.

That’s exactly why the MDS EXPO is so valuable.

For one day, you can completely immerse yourself in the MDS Experience and meet people who really understand the race.

I’ll be there sharing my own experience from a lifetime of endurance running and numerous journeys across the Sahara, helping future competitors understand what it really takes to prepare successfully for the Marathon des Sables.

You’ll also have the opportunity to hear from MDS Race Director Cyril Gauthier, who can give you a unique insight into the event, the organisation and what awaits competitors in Morocco.

Joining us will be comedian and MDS finisher Paul Tonkinson, who knows first-hand about the highs, lows, humour and emotion that come with taking on the desert.

And BBC personality and accomplished endurance runner Sophie Raworth will bring another fascinating perspective on running, challenge and pushing personal boundaries.

Between us, there will be an enormous amount of experience in the room.

And that experience matters.

Because one of the biggest mistakes people make with the MDS is waiting too long before getting serious about their preparation.

200 days sounds like a long time. It isn’t.

The next few months will disappear incredibly quickly. Training needs to build gradually. Kit needs testing. Shoes need choosing. Nutrition needs practising. Pack weight needs managing. And your confidence needs developing alongside your fitness.

You don't want to arrive in Morocco hoping you've got it right.

You want to arrive knowing.

That process can start on September 26th.

Come along, ask questions, meet previous competitors, meet the experts and surround yourself with people who understand exactly why you've decided to take on this extraordinary race.

The Marathon des Sables can change your life.

For many people, the journey towards that finish line becomes every bit as important as the race itself.

200 days to MDS Legendary 2027.

Two weeks to the MDS EXPO.

Your Sahara journey starts now.

See you at the Victory Services Club in London on September 26th from 9am.

Book your place here.

Raise your Average

Born to be Alive - Patrick Hernandez

I’ve spent a huge part of my life in and around Marathon des Sables events. I know the excitement before you go, the nerves at the start line, the doubts when things get tough and the incredible feeling when you realise you are capable of far more than you thought.

My Happy Place - Why the MDS 120 Morocco rocks.

In October, I’ll be heading back to Morocco for the MDS 120, and even now, after all these years, there is something about the desert that still gets me.

People often ask me why I keep going back. The simple answer is - it’s my happy place.

There’s something about the Moroccan desert that strips everything back. No noise. No distractions. No nonsense. Just you, your kit, the terrain, the heat and the people around you.

Life becomes very simple, very quickly. You eat, move, recover, sleep, survive, and then you do it all again the next day.

The simplicity is incredibly powerful.

I’ve spent a huge part of my life in and around Marathon des Sables events. I know the excitement before you go, the nerves at the start line, the doubts when things get tough and the incredible feeling when you realise you are capable of far more than you thought.

That’s what keeps bringing me back. MDS isn’t just a race. It’s an experience. It changes people.

You arrive thinking about the distance, kit, food, feet and temperatures. You leave having learned something much bigger about yourself. That’s exactly why I love coaching people to do it. There is a massive difference between simply following a generic training plan and preparing properly for an MDS event.

You need to understand how to train with a pack. How to move efficiently when you are tired. How to manage your feet. How to eat when you don’t feel like eating. How to cope with the heat. How to recover between the stages. How to choose the right kit and how to avoid carrying half of your house across the desert.

Most importantly, you need confidence. Confidence comes from preparation.

And that’s where I come in. I don’t coach MDS from a textbook. I coach it from experience.

I’ve completed MDS events again and again, and I understand what happens out there physically, mentally and emotionally. I know what works, what doesn’t, what people worry about unnecessarily, and where the real problems tend to appear.

Whether you’re doing MDS 120, MDS Legendary, MDS Trek or another event in the MDS family, my job is to get you to the start line knowing you’ve done everything you reasonably can to succeed.

And I want YOU to enjoy it.

Because despite the heat, the sand, the aching legs and the occasional dark moment, these events can become some of the greatest experiences of your life - I know, Morocco has certainly given me some of mine.

So, in October, I’ll be back where I feel completely at home.

Back in the desert. Back at MDS. Back in my Happy Place.

And if you’re thinking about taking on an MDS event, don’t leave your preparation to chance.

Come and work with me. I’ll help you arrive ready.

The Rory Coleman Method.

Raise Your Average.