Your Journey

I changed my lifestyle in the following ways:

• Food
• Exercise
• Behaviour
• Supportive environment

Here's what I did:

I am more conscious of the food choices I make. I love to eat fresh and simple food, and enjoy the process of making healthy and fulfilling food choices. I workout at least 4 times a week! I LOVE the feeling of being fit and healthy. Of how my back and shoulders look great in clothes, of how my knees and joints don't hurt anymore, of how with each drop of sweat I imagine a centimetre of fat sliding away. Endorphins kick in and I love to run! All of this just makes me happier!

Weight loss isn't just about me, it also impacted the people around me.

My daughter has a new mum! She told me that the beautiful mum I was on the inside is now beautiful on the outside! You don't get much more support and loving than that! My mum can't stop bragging about me to her friends and at work events colleagues tell me I am an inspiration! My weightloss and exercise journey has renewed in my family the vigour to live life! A friend said recently 'it has been so beautiful watching you emerge, and great that you are here to stay! Well done', I cried.

Your Achievements

Motivation kept me going!

Each weigh in, each star on the online tracker, each positive comment kept me going! Every time I dropped a dress size, every time I could walk further, then I could run, lift heavier weights or squat lower I knew it was all worth it. I had mini goals each step of the way, and the only true rewards I needed I got each week at my meetings, through inspiring others and being inspired! New smaller clothes, new workout gear, massages, sitting in the swing, playing in the park, family funtime.

There are things I can do now that I could never do before

Have a photo taken! Sit in a swing and be pushed, chase my daughter on the sand dunes, swim in the water (even in bathers). I can RUN, a full 12km if not more, I can do full on weight workouts, I can umpire a full game of netball and run the whole time! I can talk about my weightloss and the changes I have made, and not hide the truth about my eating habits! Most of all I can try anything as I no longer have a fear of failure or embarassing myelf or my family.

Losing weight is not always a serious business

I started my journey in October, and our last managers forum was in September and I was at my heaviest. In April we had our most recent, and I was nearly at goal- 7kg to go. I was running late, so turned up and it had started. At the break my previous boss and colleague of 2 years turned to me and said - man you are 'hot'! He said when I walked in he thought 'hello' who is that, then cringed when he realized it was me! We are great mates and this was just so funny!!!