Grafton’s 100kg weight loss women share their secrets

See how they look now. Two women share their struggles and triumphs losing an incredible 100 kilos, with one taking out a national slimmers title.

It’s taken them more than a year and there have been countless challenges along the way, but Jo-Anne Drummond of Grafton and Janelle Van Den Bogart of Lismore have transformed their lives and they’re ready to take on the world.

Together they’ve lost almost 100 kilos with the help of the Grafton Weight Loss Clinic.

For Ms Drummond, who started her weight-loss journey at 101kg, living with her parents brought her to a realisation.

Jo Drummond of Grafton before her weight loss. Picture: Supplied.

“You have that moment where you go ‘oh my god I just don’t have any energy’, I didn’t want to do anything, just stay at home,” she said.

“I started the next day.”

Ms Drummond said she was very active when she was younger, but started to put on weight following the birth of her children and giving up sport.

“Once I stopped playing sport that was it, you have kids, you get complacent I guess,” she said.

For her 40.9kg weight-loss journey, it wasn’t so much the wrong food, as the amount each night, and she made changes for everyone in the family.

It wasn’t always easy though, and picking up her son from his fast-food restaurant job was a constant challenge.

“The smell of oil on him when he got in the car, I just think ‘Oh yuck’ and it makes me sick,” she laughed.

Ms Drummond said she made the big loss without the help of much exercise, though she’s been much more active since pushing through and losing the weight.

Jo Drummond of Grafton after her weight loss through the Grafton Weight Loss Clinic. Picture: Grafton Weight Loss Clinic.

“I’m pretty stubborn, once I make the decision that’s it, and the people around me supported me,” she said.

Ms Drummond represented the Grafton Weight Loss Clinic in the Slimmer of the Year titles run by Cambridge Weight Plan Australia which she followed.

And she was just pipped to take out the title, by another woman at the clinic, Janelle Van Den Bogert, who makes the trip from Lismore to Grafton once a week to attend the weight loss clinic.

Ms Van Den Bogert lost a stunning 59.2kg in her journey, starting at 138.7kg and losing the weight in just under two years.

Janelle Van Den Bogert of Lismore before losing more than 50kg through the Grafton Weight Loss Clinic – taking out the Cambridge Weight Plan slimmer of the year national title. Picture: Grafton Weight Loss Centre.

“I’m half the person I was I guess,” she laughed.

“It’s pretty overwhelming to be named the slimmer of the year, but I didn’t do it to win anything – I just thought that if I lost weight, I’ve won anyway.”

Ms Van Den Bogert said looking back at photos of her and wanting to look better for her children’s graduation spurred her on.

Janelle Van Den Bogert of Lismore with her family in 2016 before she lost more than 50kg. Picture: Supplied.

“And just to improve my health in general,” she said. “I worked for a bank for 31 years, and for the most part you’d be on your feet all day.

“I’d go home, my feet were swollen, my legs were sore, and I got to a point where I needed to do something.”

Despite having tried other diets with little success, she said the guidance and program from the Grafton Weight Loss Clinic was something she found simple, and the support well worth the hour and a half drive.

Janelle Van Den Bogert of Lismore after losing more than 50kg through the Grafton Weight Loss Clinic – taking out the Cambridge Weight Plan slimmer of the year national title. Picture: Grafton Weight Loss Centre.

“I think you have to be ready in your own mind, otherwise you could be doing it for the wrong reasons, and it’s where a lot of people probably fail,” she said.

Ms Van Den Bogert said she found it was the little milestones along the way that kept her motivated rather than amounts on scales, or milestone achievements.

Like Ms Drummond, Ms Van Den Bogert said she hadn’t needed, or often been able to exercise through her weight-loss journey, but now was able to take part in activities such as aqua aerobics and walking – something she’d never done before.

“I feel confident being out in public with losing all that weight,” she said.

As part of her prize, which in a pre-Covid world would’ve meant an overseas trip to compete for the world title, Ms Ven Den Bogert has a $2000 clothes shopping spree to enjoy.

“I do need it,” she laughed. “The jeans have gone from size 26 down to a 14 which is wonderful.

“I did it all for my health, and now I know I’ll be around for my kids and grandkids.”