How I lost 40kg in just nine months and transformed my body by making two simple changes that anyone can do
An Australian mother lost 39kg in nine months by putting herself first and making time to learn about nutrition and exercise while caring for two small children.
Melissa Pimmer, 34, ‘ballooned’ to over 100kg after giving birth at the age of 27. She attributed the weight gain to eating too much takeout and prioritizing her family over her own health.
But the mother of two quickly realized that the healthiest version of herself would be a good example for her daughters.
Melissa told FEMAIL she didn’t know something had to be done until she took off her clothes – and it wasn’t her zipper.
“I didn’t recognize myself anymore, I knew I had to change something,” she said. “I really had to get my bad habits under control.”
The mother was ashamed that as a 27-year-old she could not shop in ‘normal’ stores and that it was extremely embarrassing when the clothes she wanted to try on did not fit her.
Melissa Pimmer, 34, ‘ballooned’ to over 100kg after giving birth at 27 – and the cause of her weight gain was eating a lot of takeaway food and prioritizing her family over her own health
Melissa told FEMAIL it wasn’t until she took off her clothes that she knew something had to be done – and it wasn’t her zipper
Before starting her health journey, Melissa said she had “no idea” about nutrition and would eat throughout the day to satisfy her hunger.
She ate four slices of toast or cereal for breakfast every morning and a hamburger for lunch.
“I ate a lot of pasta, bread and meat in large portions,” she said. ‘I was constantly snacking on chips, chocolate and lollipops.’
Taking care of children made it difficult to focus on herself and what she put into her body because she always came second.
But changing her diet has made her a ‘whole new person’ – and Melissa now aims to get the most nutrients from all her meals.
“Each meal has at least 30 grams of protein, but I don’t feel like I’m starving myself,” she said. “I learned how to lower my calories but still increase the amount of what I eat.”
“A busy family life, combined with stresses like rising interest rates and high costs of living, can really wreak havoc when it comes to eating habits,” says Moshy dietitian Kirby Sorenson.
‘If you eat out once a week or eat something on the go, that’s fine, but when you get to the point where you’re eating more takeaway food than home-cooked meals, it becomes a problem.
‘Combine that with stress, which leads to overeating, and it will not only impact weight loss goals, but you’re also likely to experience bloating and a drop in your energy levels, making you feel even worse. ‘
Ms Sorenson revealed that the key to success is prioritizing the time to prepare nutritious meals and snacks on the go, but also being kind to yourself when things go wrong.
An Australian mother lost 39kg in nine months by putting herself first and making time to learn about nutrition and exercise while caring for two small children
Melissa now eats egg white yogurt with blueberries and strawberries or whole wheat corn rolls with cottage cheese, hummus, ham and tomato.
“You feel like you’re eating a lot, but it’s only 200 calories,” she said. “It really helps to take it easy and not feel like I’m on a diet.”
For breakfast, Melissa makes herself four eggs and bacon, and for lunch she starts eating chicken salads.
“I sometimes also eat open hamburgers and replace the bun with lettuce,” she says.
She’s started looking for healthier versions of her favorite foods, like using her air fryer for chips instead of frying them, and making lower-calorie versions of her former takeout meals.
“I meal prep once a week and make sure I’m in control of the calories and tracking everything so I don’t lose weight,” she said.
The mother said caring for children made it difficult to focus on herself and what she put into her body because she always came second
The mom revealed that one of the hardest parts of her fitness journey was avoiding her cravings and staying consistent, but her family supported her throughout the process
The mom admitted that one of the hardest parts of her fitness journey was avoiding her cravings and staying consistent.
She started small by getting up earlier to go for a walk every day and choosing three days a week to exercise.
Melissa didn’t want to overcommit and be “unrealistic” with her goals because she knew she would give up if she didn’t see enough progress.
‘I wanted to feel fitter and stronger rather than trying to keep track of my weight because I knew it wouldn’t burn off straight away and I wanted to keep going.
‘After four months I noticed huge changes, and I didn’t even feel like I was doing much different.
‘There were always healthy alternatives available to satisfy my cravings, I kept a food diary of everything I ate and made sure there was a good balance of macronutrients.’
The mother of two was afraid she would lose focus on her family, but quickly realized that being the healthiest version of herself would set a good example for her daughters.
The mother also tried to incorporate her children into her new routine; she often took her youngest on walks in a stroller.
‘I realized that whatever I did, it was going to be difficult. I just chose to put myself first because I deserve the time.
“It was okay for me to go for a walk or go to the gym and draw that boundary with my family. It really isn’t more time-consuming or expensive.’
Melissa revealed that losing weight has made her 100 percent more confident and feels like she has ‘found herself’ again.
‘I can finally go to the shops and try on clothes. I can order things online and know that they suit me. It’s so liberating,” she said.