“I’m fit, healthy and more confident in the way I look.”
“Losing weight is not about what the scale says, it’s more about how you feel physically and mentally,” says Robyn White, a 32-year-old mother of two. To her, weight loss became more about being the healthiest version of herself — for her daughters.
Robyn White
Age: 32
Occupation: Lecturer
Height: 1.68m
Before: 80kg
After: 68kg
Time taken to lose weight: 4 months
Secret weapon: A strong mind
The Gain
Robyn was fit and healthy — she played squash and was big on walking. But, like many women, pregnancy saw her packing on kilos she wasn’t prepared for. “I gained and never lost the weight,” she admits. Being a mom took up most of her time and she couldn’t exercise as usual. Added to that, Robyn developed a carb obsession. “I’d eat potatoes in all forms: fried, baked and boiled. I also loved wine and cappuccinos,” she says. To her, health wasn’t a concern on her radar.
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The Change
Robyn had a rude awakening when her youngest daughter was rushed to the NICU the day she was born. “She was born with a terrible lung infection,” she says. “That was a real life-changing experience that opened my eyes to the importance of good health.” That day, watching her new-born strapped to monitors and wires, Robyn promised she’d become a healthy and fit mom so that she could lead her family by example. “It wasn’t about losing weight and fitting into skinny jeans — it was about health, fitness and happiness for me and my daughters,” she says. “I was eating way too much and it needed to stop”.
READ MORE: “I Lost 13 Kilos And Now I Finally Feel Empowered To Try New Things”
The Lifestyle
The White family lifestyle changed completely. They went to see a dietitian, who changed the way they looked at food. “I felt empowered for the first time in a very long time about food and exercise,” Robyn says. She’d cut down her portion sizes and included healthy snacks, like avocado, in her diet. She also took up running with her five-week-old baby. “I had a pram and my two legs. So I decided to run. I did my very first five kay in 58 minutes!”
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The Reward
Robyn kept at it and by the time her daughter was four months old, she’d run her first 21km race. But the biggest reward for her was the way her kids were developing healthy habits too. “My two-year-old toddler said to me the other day, ‘Come Mama, let’s go run and exercise!’ I was so proud,” she says. “I’m fit, healthy and more confident in the way I look — I love running as much as I love collecting the medals at the end of each race,” she says. There really is no greater feeling.
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Robyn’s Tips
> Make exercise a priority. Only got 20 minutes? That’s more than enough time.
> Consult a professional. Having trouble with food? Dieticians are qualified and can help.
> Find balance. Balance is key. Find it and make it work for you.
Looking for more? Here are five basic rules you need to follow to lose belly fat.