My timing couldn’t have been better
“A month after I joined WW my husband Rodney was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I had obesity and my doctor said I wouldn’t see my 60th birthday if I didn’t do something. But that same month, Rodney went bankrupt and we lost our business, house, cars – the lot. We were at a real crossroads. I thought about giving WW up but I was scared for Ethan, so I persevered.”
The results kept me going
“When I first started, I didn’t know what portion control was. I love cooking and come from an Italian background, where you show love for people through food. It took time to learn a different way of cooking. But I got the hang of it and the weight started to drop off. Ethan lost 16kg and Rodney lost 35kg – after just nine months, he was able to come off his diabetes medication.”
I had to shift my focus
“I lost 32kg alongside Rodney and Ethan and won the WW Inspiration Award in 2013, which was overwhelming because it was done by public vote. It made me realise that my story had resonated with others – and that telling my story was helping others. That award also inspired me to shift my focus so that I became my priority. Rather than simply being about my family, now it was my turn to focus on my health and my weight loss. It was a huge step and I was so determined to succeed, nothing was going to get in my way.”
What to do when hiccups happen
“At one point, I hit a weight-loss plateau that lasted three months. It was very frustrating but at the same time, the idea of giving up never entered my head. I just went back to basics – I put my kitchen scales back on the bench so I could weigh everything that I needed to, and I started tracking everything I ate again. I also tried to shake things up – doing an extra walk or trying a new exercise class. These days I dedicate two hours a day, every day, to going for a walk or doing something for myself. It’s so important.”
