Wattimena on dramatic weight loss: "I stood on the scale and thought this has to be different"

Jermaine Wattimena seems to have found a new lease of life after losing no less than 33 kilograms of weight since the start of the year.

For Wattimena, it clicked for him after the last World Championship.

"I was shocked after the Christmas period. I stood on the scale and thought: this has to be different. I ate in the past I don't know how many bags of chips. When I went somewhere by train I quickly grabbed a fries at a Smullers (fast food restaurant in Netherlands)," according to 'The Machine Gun' in an interview with Sportnieuws.nl.

"Or when I was walking in the city, the temptation for a quick croquette or frikandel was very great. I was constantly hungry and ate a lot of snacks. And if I ate unhealthy, I did it a lot and with a lot of sauces. In addition, I did not exercise. Then you will soon be over your daily maximum number of calories."

"I've tried so many times to lose weight, but I never really persevered. That had to be different this time," says Wattimena. "And I'll just keep going. I like this so much. Although I'm not going to say to other darters now: I used to be as fat as you. Everyone should feel good the way they are ."

Wattimena followed the Weight Watchers program and also started interval training. "I soon saw a difference and felt only positive things. I have now lost 33 kilos and have gone from 62 percent fat percentage to 33 percent. After a competition I was always completely exhausted. Really tired. I don't have that at all now. My recovery time has also improved tremendously."

Despite his weight loss, the results on the oche have not been forthcoming for Wattimena for the time being. "I have to be patient. It doesn't just go away, it's in you anyway. You really benefit from a good fitness for darts. You can last longer and you also become stronger mentally. It may not work immediately in half a year or in 1 or 2 years, but in the future it can certainly work in my favor," concludes the Dutchman.