When Colette came to pick up her child from our house six years ago, she was a petite, wiry woman with a beauty queen's figure. We stood outside talking while my husband's friend gawked from a second-floor window. I swear I heard his jaw hit the sill.
These days, I mostly see Colette on Facebook.
Colette Orringe rocks a jean dress in 2010.
The 45-year-old remarried in 2016 and has settled happily into her new life with husband, Ashley. She looks quite different than when we met, like she's morphed into a sister who's older and heavier.
Earlier this week, Colette shared her 2018 goal on Facebook, explaining she has never had weight issues - until now.
She was a runner whose fastest half marathon was one hour, 28 minutes – a time that would've captured fourth place for women in last year's Rotorua half.
She wrote, "When I moved back from the States 6 years ago I was a tiny 41kg [Colette stands just under 150cm] I have since grown and grown and grown (funny/not funny). Ash and I live a very social life and entertain and are entertained a lot. We have a wonderful time but things have caught up…"
She explained she would love to lose 30kg and posted photos of her trimmer self.
I was intrigued by Colette's honesty and humour – the unflinching way she shared a universal dilemma. Her post attracted more than 100 comments - well-wishers, potential walking buddies and other people battling extra mass due to illness, inactivity or too much food and drink.
We need only look around to confirm what government statistics report: nearly one in three adults in New Zealand is obese; a further 34 per cent are overweight but not obese. That's an official way of stating the obvious – most of us are fat.
I asked Colette whether I could share her story and some photos. She said yes.
She told me over the phone why she went public with her goal. "I kind of needed to make myself a little bit accountable…and I've had a lot of people personal message and call me saying they're in the same boat."
She's struggled with exercise due to back and knee injuries (possibly weight-related) and wants to lose enough kilos to exercise comfortably again.
"My motivation was from my family because they're all runners. They're all very athletic, still."
A Christmas visit with her Auckland whanau was the final straw – they were concerned for her health. "They said, 'Oh my gosh, you can't do this to yourself'."
From a personal high of 80kg, Colette has lost 3kg the past week by walking, cutting portion sizes and limiting carbohydrates and beer. She says her days of downing six brews on a weeknight and another 10 to 12 during a single weekend day are over.
"It's just changing habits."
Colette said her husband is very supportive - "He's happy to cut back, as well."
One thing I admire about Colette's plan is what she's not doing: nothing faddish or expensive. No 30-day this or 60-day that. No paleo, vegan, eating-for-blood-type or hair colour or according to the shape of your little toe.
Tell me all about your diet-with-a-name and I'll nod off between bites of spare rib and blueberry pie (in moderation, of course).
Colette calls her new regime a daily commitment. She's embarking on the simplest plan: eat less, move more. She hopes to walk a long-distance event later this year to celebrate the increased mobility she's working to achieve.
Whether your goal is exercising more, losing weight, starting a business, completing a degree or publishing the twelfth draft of your manuscript (stand up, self), we can learn from Colette's method: enlist your community; take small, daily steps and go easy on the alcohol. She can get there. So can you. So can I.
*What's your goal for 2018? We'll check back in periodically with Colette and update you on her progress.
