Kiwi mum Belinda Brodie was fat-shamed on her summer holidays and has since dropped half her body weight so she can travel the world stress-free. Photo / Caters News
Kiwi mum Belinda Brodie was fat-shamed on her summer holidays and has since dropped half her body weight so she can travel the world stress-free. Photo / Caters News
An obese Kiwi mum who was fat-shamed in Bali has dropped half her body weight so she can travel the world.
Belinda Brodie, 31, felt she was "too fat to travel" after being fat-shamed while holidaying in Bali and Thailand.
The mum-of-one, who is originally from Wanaka, claims she was "ashamed and embarrassed" after locals and tourists alike "made fun" of her 130kg, size 26 frame — with store vendors in Bali claiming she was "too fat" for any of their clothes while laughing behind her back.
But Belinda, who now lives in Perth, Australia, decided enough was enough and lost an incredible 56kg so she could travel the world stress-free.
Before her transformation, Belinda Brodie says she felt like she was losing herself a little bit. Photo / Caters News
Belinda has since had the time of her life flaunting her brand new 74kg svelte size 12 body all over the world — including luxury holidays around Australia, New Zealand, France, Norway and Spain.
The brave mum even went back to Bali during her weight loss journey in 2014 with her husband Travis, 30, and son Oliver, six, and was elated when the locals recognised and even congratulated her on slimming down.
Belinda said: "Traveling when you're 130kg is not easy and I hated every minute of it. I was so anxious getting on planes because it's such a small space for a big person.
"When I visited Thailand and Bali I could feel both locals and other tourists gawking at me and some would even laugh at me behind my back. It was heartbreaking.
"It's so hot in Asia so I'd be wearing less clothing than usual and couldn't cover up like I normally would, so I felt extra vulnerable.
"When I was in Bali, I was looking at some clothes on the roadside stalls and the shop owner came out and told me I was too fat to buy anything, and that they had nothing big enough to fit me.
"I heard them laughing after I'd walk away, and it really hurt.
"This happened a lot, and it totally gutted me. I love the Balinese people and I don't think they meant to be so mean about it. It's just a cultural thing, they're very direct and have no filter.
"Similar things happened in Thailand, too. Other tourists would move out of the way to let me pass with a big smirk on their face. It's so humid and I'd be sweating all the time.
"While I still mostly enjoyed myself, I feel like my size just ruined things for me and spoilt my holidays.
Photos of Belinda Brodie before (right) and after (left) she dramatically altered her lifestyle to regain her fitness. Photos / Caters News
"But after losing the weight, I've never had any issues travelling and have had some incredible experiences.
"I've travelled everywhere now, and have been snowboarding, hiking, horse riding and bow and arrow shooting. I never could have done any of that before as I was so unfit."
The mum of one said her weight would constantly fluctuate due to yo-yo dieting — but she began to pile on the pounds more than ever after the birth of her son in 2011.
Belinda revealed that she suffered from post-natal depression and anxiety, and would often find herself "comfort eating" whole batches of homemade baked cookies, brownies and muffins.
And with her husband Travis working away in the mines, the mum said she would isolate herself indoors and never wanted to leave the house.
But after struggling to keep up with her son, Oliver, then two, at a local Perth zoo, Belinda said she realised she needed to change her lifestyle for good.
In September 2013, Belinda totally overhauled her carb-heavy diet of bread, pastries and pasta with a clean-eating regime that focuses on healthy proteins and fresh fruit and vegetables.
She also began exercising daily by going for jogs every morning and working out at the gym with the help of a personal trainer and fitness classes.
An image of Belinda Brodie's new slimmed-down look is flanked by pictures of her when she was obese. Photos / Caters News
Now Belinda is fitter than she ever has been, relying on Brazilian jiu-jitsu and powerlifting six times a week to keep her toned.
She said: "I tried all the different diets, I'd lose a little weight, but then pile it all back on soon after stopping.
"I wasn't happy with myself and was 100kg after giving birth to my son. All of a sudden, you're in the mum role and it's so easy to stop taking care of yourself because you just give everything to your baby.
"I was so happy to have this gorgeous little boy in my life, but I felt like I was losing myself a little bit. The post-natal depression just crept up on me.
"I think a lot of new parents can relate to this. I'm just lucky I got myself out of that spiral before things got too bad.
"I finally decided to make a real change to my health after I visited the zoo with my son. I couldn't keep up with him.
"The next day I threw out all the bad things from my cupboard and started again. I began jogging each morning, and eventually joined a gym and went to fitness classes.
"I managed to lose 30kg in the first year. I felt incredible, and the weight just kept coming off.
