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While it is becoming screamingly obvious that I am losing weight, having lost 60kgs over a 2 year period (granted I did have a baby in that time and gained a fair chunk of that back, so have had to re-lose the weight).. I want to brag without guilt! I am so proud of my efforts because I have lost this on my own, no fad diets, no meal replacements, all on my OWN! Plus, I have 5 kids, so exercise has to be free and as much as I can squeeze in, in a short time space.

Now I’m not saying everyone needs a kick up the butt to lose the weight, but for me it was my obstetrician telling me that the only way I was going to lose weight was to have gastric banding surgery… Surgery! That was her only option for me, at 160kgs and almost 9 months pregnant, that I would need to have major surgery to fix what I had done to my body over years of neglecting my diet and focusing on raising my young children. When I told her that I could do it on my own, that I could lose the weight if I focused, she proceeded to tell me that it just isn’t possible at my size, to lose it on my own. I walked out of that doctors office and told my sister, “Watch me!”

And it was not easy, some days it was exhausting. In the beginning, after having a c-section, I could do so little, I felt I was making no progress. Then I would have a “bad” eating day and it would end up blowing out my whole week. Then I would be ashamed of myself and push myself too hard the next week.

But now, I remind myself that it’s a long road. I used to get really angry at myself for not reaching weight loss goals I set, so I stopped setting them. Yes, it’s important to have a final goal, but focus on each week. Just remind yourself that even 100gm lost in one week, means you are smaller than last week and it’s a step in the right direction. I have days where I end up eating badly, because I just wanted that cupcake and I didn’t feel like counting calories, I just remind myself that tomorrow is a new day and I will get back on track. No one can do it for me.

Some days I get to walk 16km (took almost 3 hours and I was EXHAUSTED) some days, it’s only 3km and I feel I let my body down by not walking enough. But then I remember a time where 3kms used to take me almost an hour and the thought of going for a walk, made me want to go and eat a cupcake. Now, I long for my walks and I love being out in the fresh air.

There are people who will have a negative comment about your weight loss, like “You’re still holding weight in your arse and thighs, why don’t you lose weight from there?!” or “You’re losing it too quickly, it’s not healthy”… I can now jog with a 15kg five year old on my back and a 6kg six month old on the front (not for long, but proud of the fact that I can do it!), I eat 7 serves of vegetables a day and I drink almost 4lts of water a day. I’d say I’m pretty healthy.
Then there are those that say “I wish I had your motivation” or “I wish I had your dedication, but I love my food too much”. It’s hard to have an answer for those people.. because I used to be one of them.

I think it’s obvious I am not a great writer, my story is all over the place and just random thoughts written as I go.
But it’s my story. I have come a long way in my life change. I am not on a diet, I make healthy choices in my life.
Every one can do it. Switch that cappuccino to skim milk… switch out one of your many coffees, for a glass of water.. Walk the 15 minutes to school or work, instead of taking the car… Just a little more effort each day and you will make a difference. We all have to start somewhere. But the most important thing is, to START!

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Posted anonymously, 29th June 2015