Better Lives with AIA Vitality: How Andrew discovered the difference between a lean build and being healthy

By the time he was 36, Andrew had a young son – and a lot less spare time for exercise. “After being slim my whole life, the dad-bod was starting to kick-in,” he says.

His fitness levels had also dropped, and higher-intensity exercise was becoming more difficult. “It becomes a self-perpetuating cycle,” says Andrew. “I was keen to avoid that and make improvements.”

The real kick-start came when, after joining AIA Vitality, he received the results of his AIA Vitality Health Check and self-assessments. “I was suddenly like, ‘Whoa. There’s a whole load of red dots in there,’” he says.

Andrew used this moment to take account of his lifestyle. He started to question if certain choices, like fatty foods or drinking during the week, were sustainable long-term. 

In addition to nutrition, Andrew’s blood tests yielded surprising results. “It came out with slightly elevated cholesterol,” says Andrew. “I thought, ‘What? High cholesterol? That's what my dad has. It was a wake-up call’”

This experience was a catalyst. “I realised if I didn’t make changes, then sooner or later it would get to a point where change was going to be harder to achieve.”

Andrew’s journey began with small steps.  Among the first was bringing nutrition to the forefront of his mind. “The trips to the pie shop have gone,” Andrew laughs. Now, he brings a healthy lunch to work (salmon & avocado on multigrain toast and fruit is the new go-to). He’s also made other dietary tweaks, like swapping dairy for almond milk in his smoothies.

Reducing his alcohol intake was another goal for Andrew. After completing the Dry July challenge, he thought: “Actually, that was super easy. Maybe I’ll just go a bit longer.”

“It’s not like I suddenly changed my whole lifestyle overnight,” says Andrew. “But it’s about making those small conscious changes.”

A change of job (and working culture) turned out to be a huge asset to his wellbeing.

His new workplace at Finsol is heavily focused on health and wellbeing. “They pay for a gym membership. We’re encouraged to go for an hour a week during the workday, and we also train together as a team” says Andrew. “The clients get the best version of you.” 

Since stepping back to see his habits in a different light, Andrew knew that the AIA Vitality philosophy of small changes was the right approach for him. “It’s got to be sustainable,” he says.

Since his first assessment two years earlier, Andrew’s health has improved in areas he previously hadn’t considered. His blood pressure and cholesterol have come down, as well as his BMI. “I’ve lost about two and a half kilograms,” says Andrew. “But I didn’t really have much to lose.”

And all those red dots from before? “I just re-did the questionnaires two days ago,” says Andrew. “There are hardly any reds now.” Andrew knows there will always be areas where he can improve, and he’s fine with that. “It’s not saying you need to change everything.”

Looking back at his journey, Andrew’s understanding of wellbeing is more holistic. “For younger men, I think the focus is often more on fitness… Or for appearance, which can result in it being one-dimensional and counter-intuitive,” he says.

“By paying more attention to diet and wellbeing, alongside exercise, I’ve found that I am more conscious of my overall health.”