A size-20 mum-of-four whose weight spiralled after she lived off an unhealthy diet of “out-of-control” food portions has dropped 46kg naturally in an astonishing body transformation.
Cassie Krawczyk, from Victoria, was overweight — tipping the scales at 108kg.
At her heaviest, she was always out of breath, and the pain through her body was so severe, turning over in bed was excruciating.
Despite eating “healthy” every day, the mum would constantly go back for seconds — or even thirds — without thinking about the calories she was actually consuming, leading to her weight gain.
After struggling to keep up with her kids, she knew she needed to overcome her bad eating habits to get healthy.
Determined to get on top of her weight once and for all, the mum went from a size 18-20 to a size eight — without depriving herself of pasta and even takeaway meals.
Before her weight loss, the mum says she was always tired and in constant pain.
“I would spend my time mostly laying around watching TV. I didn’t exercise much and when I did I felt like I was dying,” Cassie, now 34, tells 7Life.
Her daily meals consisted of healthy options, including “basic” chicken salads — but she noticed she was still gaining weight due to the amount of calories she was unknowingly eating.
“My diet wasn’t great,” she says.
“I always assumed that because I was eating something healthy I could go back and have second or third large servings.
“It wasn’t until I made the change that I realised that even a basic chicken salad could have a large amount of calories if you are consuming large quantities.”
As she struggled with her weight gain, she was diagnosed with pre-diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Her turning point came after she struggled to keep up with her kids.
“After the birth of my second daughter in 2015, I realised I needed to make a change… I wanted to be a better role model for my children,” she says.
“I was always tired. I was always sore. The back pain was unreal. Turning over in bed would hurt every part of my body.
“I was in constant pain and was always out of breath.
“Being overweight and unhealthy wasn’t good for the kids and for me.
“They needed me to be healthy to be a better mother.
“My children inspired me to lose weight.”
She joined The Healthy Mummy weight loss program in 2015 after seeing “inspiring” results from other mums.
“I thought if they can do this so can I. So I started with changing my eating habits,” she explains.
“Not long after I joined, I started focusing on my calories in and calories out.
“I would walk most days which soon turned to running.
“Once I gained some confidence I joined a gym and started weight training.”
‘Healthier and stronger’
After giving birth to her third and fourth children, the mum has stayed on top of her healthy lifestyle.
“I have next to no pain now,” she says.
“I can keep up with my kids and overall I feel healthier and stronger.
“When I see pictures of myself when I was at my heaviest, I am shocked.
“I’m shocked that I have achieved such a drastic transformation and shocked I was ever so big.”
Guilty pleasures
As she makes healthier choices, Cassie says she allows herself to enjoy her favourite food — including takeaway once-a-week — within reason.
“I love my coffee — that is my guilty pleasure. Every day I treat myself to a latte,” she says.
“Every week we also enjoy a takeaway night. So I’m not limiting myself too much.”
(7 NEWS)
