"I kept picturing what I wanted myself to be" - Kerryn Peters on what motivated her. Photo / John Borren / Supplied
"I kept picturing what I wanted myself to be" - Kerryn Peters on what motivated her. Photo / John Borren / Supplied
In case you missed it: This was one of Life & Style's biggest stories from 2015.
Saturday Jan 24, 2015
At her heaviest, Tauranga woman Kerryn Peters weighed 122kg. Today the mum-of-four is celebrating losing more than half of that to achieve a weight of 56kg.
Mrs Peters said that, in the past year alone she has lost 30kg simply through eating healthier and exercising. The 30-year-old hasn't taken up any radical diet regime or relied on a personal trainer.
She has now started a Facebook page where she diaries her weight loss journey in an effort to help inspire others who might be struggling to slim down.
Mrs Peters, who stands 164cm tall, said her journey also served as her own motivation.
"When I go to the gym, I have a picture of my old self," she said.
Mrs Peters initially tried to lose weight through popular diets and "quick fixes" 10 years ago but put weight back on as soon as she lost it. Among the years of "yo-yo dieting" Mrs Peters ended up weighing 122kg five years ago.
"So it got to a point where I thought 'I can either keep feeling sorry for myself or make a decision and go for it'.
"I kept picturing what I wanted myself to be. I don't want to be that [big] person anymore."
"I would eat the Ultimate KFC Quarter Pack, a whole one just for myself, plus a snack burger and extra chips. It's so embarrassing to think about that. I'd have a whole block of chocolate in one go, just things like that. I can't believe I'd eat that. I don't think I could ever eat like that again. I wouldn't want to."
Mrs Peters then began a solo journey to lose the weight through her own means - no paleo, no CrossFit, or any other popular fitness fad.
"I've been on my own and the first thing I tried was I cut down on sugar - not completely because you can't live like that, but I cut it down and cut down on things like white bread."
Kerryn Peters before she lost weight. Photo/supplied.
However, Mrs Peters will allow herself a "treat day" each Saturday, where she can finally have that slice of white bread or possibly something more naughty.
"It helps me get through the week because I know I've got that," she said.
Mrs Peters' diet consists mostly of fruit, veges and meats.
"I'm not feeling like I'm in a diet because I'm not cutting anything out. I'm just eating more balanced [food]," she said.
"It is strange. I look in the mirror sometimes and don't even recognise myself. I look at photos and go 'is that me?'
"I can go into clothes stores and fit clothes. I'm size eight now. I used to be 24.
Mrs Peters has been supported by husband John who helps look after their children aged 12, 3, 2 and 5 months, when she goes to the gym. Mrs Peters said she is loving life now and has a new zest and vigour to do things she was too tired to do before.
"It's not even about trying to get skinny. I'm getting muscle, building up definition. My skin is healthy because I'm eating well, not starving myself like I used to because that doesn't work," she said.
"It was hard when I started. But once I realised that I could still have some treats sometimes you actually realise it's not that bad. I adjusted to it quite quickly once you got over the mindset."
"If a person is looking to lose weight and sustain that weight loss, then they need to eat less - consume less fuel than they use and to burn more fuel than they use."
Dr Gemming said it was important to maintain a diet that a person could follow easily for a year or two. "It's probably far better to have a modest diet of ordinary healthy foods than flash-in-the-pan health diets."
