Be Inspired: Katy.

B

e prepared to be completely and utterly inspired, my friends. I’ve watched Katy transform in her journey from Fat Mum to Slim Mum and not only has there been a beautiful physical shift, her confidence and personality really shine through more now too.

While reading through Katy’s interview I had about a trillion light bulb moments {boy, is it bright in here or what?} and I hope she inspires you all as well. Thank you Katy for allowing me to interview you, but also for being so inspiring and motivating. Congratulations on reaching your goal.

Name: Katy
Age: 30
Height: 167cm
Occupation: Mum, wife, financial controller, chef, creative director, you get the drift!
Weight Before: 106.7kg
Weight After: 68.1kg
Total Weight Lost: 38.6kg

How did you get to your starting weight?
A combination of factors led me to putting on over 35kg over a period of 7 years. I began working full-time, I was newly married, and then add to the mix moving house a couple of times and 3 children in quick succession, it was on before I knew it. My eating habits grew worse with my time being taken up by working, commuting to work, and fitting in children. I knew I was getting bigger – I just never admitted HOW big – and it was easier to be in denial and keep eating. I would say I’m also an emotional eater – I eat when I’m happy, sad, stressed… and I tended to eat too much of the wrong food, often in binge sessions that I would hide from my family.

What made you decide to start Weight Watchers?
I went to donate blood, and was horrified when I had to stand on the scales in front of a much older gentleman and had to admit my weight to a stranger! I was tired of being unhappy about myself, and was making myself feel ‘better’ (worse!!) by forgetting about it by eating more food. I also didn’t want my eldest boy to start Kindergarten with a ‘fat mum’ and give cruel kids another reason to potentially tease him. I decided it was time to put ME first. Happy Mum = happy home, and I decided it was best for all of us if I dedicated some more time to myself and my health that would then benefit them.

When did you start to feel different?
I would say after I had lost my first 10% of my total weight, and when my weight had dropped down to double digits. I had dropped 2 sizes (to an 18), and was starting to feel much more energetic from eating better and moving more.

Did you set mini goals along the way?
Most definitely, and they helped keep me motivated. I tried to follow the SMART priciples (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely), but also didn’t make my mini-goals unachievable as I didn’t want to set myself up for failure! I probably had a good 20 or so mini goals along the way, such as reach 5kg lost, get under 100kg, lose 10%, lose 10kg, lose 15kg, walk for an hour, fit into a size 16 pair of jeans, join a gym, get back into bike riding etc. I had a large list, that I tracked in a spreadsheet, along with my weigh-in results each week, my monthly measurements (a fabulous motivator!), and graph showing me visually how much I was achieving.

Did you have any hurdles/weaknesses?
Oh yes, emotional eating and binge eating were two HUGE things that had to deal with if I had to be successful. In fact, tackling these hurdles will be life-long, but it is much easier now that I have the support of WW and its tools, my fellow members, my husband and my online network. It’s never easy, but it gets easier. I was more scared of how I was going to manage without my regular binge sessions that I was about exercise (almost!). Another hurdle was facing the excuses I kept coming up with to NOT exercise – such as ‘having no time’, ‘being tired all the time’, ‘the kids need…’, ‘I need to go…’. I stopped making excuses and put myself first so I couldn’t MAKE excuses.

What exercise did you do to begin with?
I started really small, on the advice of my leader at the time. Once I committed to losing almost 40kg – which was daunting in itself, I would wake up with my husband in the morning as he got ready for work, get dressed (I get my clothes and shoes out the night before, no excuses!), and I would walk around the block for 15 minutes – on my own. I gradually built it up, 5 minutes at a time. Once I felt more confident with myself – probably after the first 10kg was gone, I joined Curves to do some more strength training. I didn’t want to join until I had a habit going of walking daily, so I knew I would keep going to Curves, and knew that I could commit to just 30 minutes 3 times a week.

What exercise do you do now?
I go to Curves four times a week, I walk for an hour 2 or 3 times a week, I walk the dog of an evening 3 times a week for 20 minutes, and as a family we try and do a bike ride around the fabulous waterways on the Central Coast where we live.

How did it feel when you reached your goal?
I was elated, I was on such a natural high that after 15 months of solid work, I had made it to goal!! Not the fast 1kg-a-week way, but in my own time, and without feeling like I had missed out on anything. I was so happy and proud of myself.

What advice would you give to others wanting to lose weight?
1. Just do it.
2. Don’t be afraid.
3. Find a fantastic support network.
4. Put yourself first.
5. You deserve to feel as good as I do about getting to goal!

How is your life different now?
Words are hard to convey how much my life is different. I have a deeper and much more loving relationship with my husband than I did before, because I’ve found confidence in myself that I didn’t know I had. I exercise, I enjoy it and find it really does give me much more energy. I eat well, and I’ve learnt how to vary my cooking techniques to still eat tasty food. I feel on top of the world!

What can you do now that you couldn’t before?
I can walk for an hour at a steady 6km/hour, which is amazing when I could barely walk around the block when I began exercising. I actually look for more activities than I did before, and do more with my family than I did 2 years ago. I’m enjoying life now.

How have people reacted to the new you?
Oh, people have been so supportive along the whole length of my weight-loss! Their encouragement has been invaluable. But the comments saying how fabulous I look, and how small my bottom is, never fails to give me a smile! But more, I have much more confidence radiating from me, that I think even strangers pick up on that, without knowing the path I’ve travelled, and I actually feel that they feel my opinion is important.

What’s your favourite Weight Watcher’s recipe?
Without a doubt, Cheesy Mustard Lamb Steaks, with steamed point-free veggies or salad! So easy and low in points – just multiply by the number of people you are serving.

Cheesy Mustard Lamb Steaks
Serves 1 @ 5.5 points

Ingredients
125g lamb leg steak
3 tablespoons low-fat grated tasty cheese
1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
1 shallot, chopped (or 1/8 onion, finely chopped)
1 medium potato, steamed
Point free steamed vegetables/salad

Method
Coat a fry pan with spray oil. Cook lamb steak until tender.
Combine cheese, mustard and shallot and sprinkle over steaks. Grill until melted and browning.

Serve with vegetables or salad.

I can only add as advice to anyone is to believe in yourself. If you believe in yourself, others will begin to as well.

22 thoughts on “Be Inspired: Katy.”

  1. This is what I needed I am a mother of one, turning 32 this year so I am hoping to lose 20kg I want to feel good about my body again.. Thanks for doing this story!!

  2. What an amazing Journey!
    Truely inspiring to everyone out there, letting them know that anything is possible!
    Best of luck for the future Katy
    Thanks for sharing Chantelle
    x

  3. Oh my goodness, Katy looks incredible. Thanks so much for sharing her story – I'm completely inspired to lose the measly 3 or so kgs that I've been lugging around. xo

  4. Katy is my hero! One day I WILL be just like her! Seriously!

    Such an inspirational woman, mother, person. Fantastic work Katy. You look amazing!

  5. Hey Telle, just wanted to say thanks for this post.. I really need to hear how people are being successful in reaching their goal weights whilst I'm in the middle of my journey.. it spurs me on with encouragement..

    thanks 🙂

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