I'd like to inroduce you to Sally. I met Sal, about 5.5yrs ago online when I was pregnant with Ella. A first time Mum to be, I found an online group of girls where I could ask all my many questions. Sal was one of these girls. Happily I discovered she lived in Perth and I have caught up with her "in real life" a few times.
All that aside, I want to share with you her fabulous journey to live life VIVIDLY, a Mum of two who works full time who has taken control of her life again! She looks AMAZING and what I notice the most is how big her smile is now and how much younger she looks! ;) Well done sweetheart!!
Over to you Sal...
Weight journey post-kids
After my first child in late 2003, I went to Weight Watchers and to the gym four times a week, and lost nearly 30kg in under a year to get into my healthy weight range (mid-60 kgs).
During my second pregnancy in 2005-2006, I again gained too much weight, however by the time I returned to work in 2007 I was back into the low 70-kg range. Full time work, a baby and a 3 year old, part time study and the responsibilities of a wife and mother did not leave much “me time” and the gym was one of those things I let slide. By 2010 I was up to 88.5 kg and about a size 18. I snacked when I was stressed or unhappy and had a bit of a tendency to go overboard on sugary things. I had decided in 2008 to be a vegetarian (not for weight reasons), however that was no help to my weight management as my problem foods were not meat!
In mid 2010 I decided I had to get some regular exercise back into my life. I did a series of beginners’ pilates classes, which I really enjoyed. It strengthens and works the whole body, in a low impact way, and there are options for the less fit. It is also low impact, which was good for me. So I joined a pilates fitness centre and started going to an hour long class, three times a week. The classes were at 6am, which was the only time that really worked for my schedule. It was quite a commitment, getting up at 5:30am three times a week and having everything ready for the kids the night before so my husband could easily get them ready for the day. After six months, I was feeling stronger and more flexible, but I was still the same size. I knew it was time to get my diet sorted out.
On the recommendation of a friend, I went to the Calorie King website (www.calorieking.com.au) and joined it. You enter your weight and other information and it works out a daily calorie (kilojoule) intake for you. You then enter your food, water and exercise details daily to make sure you stay on target. I started doing this daily from January 2011. I started losing weight straight away. Occasionally I would lose less or none. I noticed I held more fluid at certain times of the month and didn’t worry about that too much, but if I was not losing at other times I would make some small changes to my diet or exercise to pick it up again. I weigh myself every day; I know many programs discourage this but I like regular feedback and it helps me to focus.
I went on a couple of holidays during my weight loss journey where it wasn’t convenient to track my food, and just tried to eat the same things and the same quantities as I usually did.
I reached my goal weight of 66 kg (the top of my healthy weight range) on 10th September 2011. I am now at 65.4 kg and have lost 23.1 kg since January. I feel fit and strong and healthy; I have thrown out clothes in larger sizes and am mostly in size 12 and a few size 10 things. For the last few months I have been getting compliments nearly every day, which is crazy, but nice.
I intend to keep tracking my food for quite some time as I know how easy it is for a few extra things to sneak in there. And I’m going to keep doing pilates; when you find an exercise you love you actually want to keep doing it.
If you want to be healthier, fitter or lose some weight, I encourage you to find an exercise you enjoy, and to be honest and accountable to yourself about what you’re eating. Anything is possible!
