'I lost over 70kg without missing out on life'

'If you set your mind to it, you can achieve anything'

Olga lost a total of 70kg. Image: Unsplash

At 148kg, Melbourne accounts officer Olga Babatzanis felt like a failure, but through a disciplined change to her diet routine, she found her new lease on life.

Growing up with a sense of internalised pressure to be like her siblings: happily married and with kids, Olga Babatzanis took comfort in food.

Over the years, her weight crept up and her self-confidence deflated to an all-time low.

“I would hide by wearing baggy clothes and would hide behind others when photos were being taken,” Babatzanis tells Body+Soul. “I felt lost in life.”

Battling with an overwhelming sense of failure and a desire to find her happing ending, Babatzanis found the courage to turn her life around.

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“I come from a big Greek family and because all my siblings were married with children, my family had the same expectation for me. I felt as though my weight was my biggest barrier to achieving this and I felt like a failure,” Babatzanis shares with Body+Soul.

“I realised I was nearing my 40s and needed to change my entire lifestyle. I also wanted to find my happily ever after.”

Approaching her 40th birthday, Babatzanis started on her health journey, a decision that would be the best choice of her life. But after trying and failing with a number of exercise routines and diets, Babatzanis needed an action plan that would actually encourage her consistency, rather than her complacency.

At 148kg, Babatzanis signed up for The 1:1 Diet, a meal plan that actively reduces calorie consumption by offering effective meal replacement solutions to kickstart weight loss.

“After reading more about The 1:1 Diet, I decided that I would give this plan a go. This was made up of a mixture of four meal replacement products a day. I would mix this up by sometimes having three of their products per day plus 1 homemade meal.”

Babatzanis also mentions that when she started the diet, she bought herself a set of food scales which she would use to measure out all of her food to ensure she wasn’t overeating on any given day. But on the rare occasion when she found herself out for dinner with her family, she wouldn’t restrict herself and would enjoy her time eating out, but she always made sure to follow this with a disciplined routine for the rest of the week.

“If I overindulged or ate out for a special occasion, I would go back to my normal eating regime the very next day.”

Before Olga starting prioritising her health, she weighed 148kg. Image: Supplied

The shift to a meal-replacement diet was no easy transition, however, Babatzanis was determined not to be defeated again by yet another diet.

“It was hard. My mind was always on food but I was determined that this time I would stick it out and just focus on myself and the goals that I had set out to achieve.”

And that she did. Since embarking on her weight loss journey, Babatzanis has lost a whopping 70kg, pressing reset on her life, and she’s never felt better.

“I took a few years to lose the weight as I didn’t want to lose it really fast and then put everything back on again, and it’s stuck.”

The reason it worked this time? Babatzanis says it came down to the undying support from her programme mentor. “My consultant Marianne was the key that was missing from all previous diets. She was there for me each and every day and week. Catching up with her on a weekly basis and being weighed every week kept me on track. She provided the support that I needed as well as provided me with all the information that I needed to achieve my goals.”

After a successful weight loss journey, Olga took home the 1:1 Diet Slimmer Of The Year Award. Image: Supplied

Olga’s day on a plate

Breakfast: 1:1 Diet meal replacement product or 2 x WeetBix with skim milk

Mid-morning snack: Strawberries or yoghurt

Lunch: Tuna and salad, eggs and salad, or a ham and salad wrap

Afternoon snack: 1:1 Diet meal replacement bar

Dinner: Portion of protein (chicken, fish or pork) with salad/veggies and rice/potatoes

After Dinner snack Yoghurt and fruit, or 1:1 Diet pop squares

Water: Two to three litres a day

Olga’s typical week of exercise

"I have really enjoyed walking so have continued with it. I try and aim for 10,000 steps per day."

Olga’s biggest challenges

Like many others who have switched their entire routine for the better of their health, Babatzanis admits that finding mind over matter is easier said than done, but when it is achieved, grasping it with both hands and staying disciplined is the key to overcoming all obstacles.

“My biggest challenge was changing my mindset towards food. Ensuring that I made the right choices and not overindulging within social settings was the biggest challenge.”

Olga lost a total of 70kg. Image: Supplied

Olga’s advice for others

For anyone else looking for a happy ending, Babatzanis says realism is key. Set goals and expect change to be uncomfortable at first.

“Set yourself realistic goals. It won’t happen overnight, and you will need to change your whole lifestyle as well as outlook in life.”

Additionally, Babatzanis emphasises the need for a support system, whether big or small.

“You will also need the correct type of support who will be there for you and guide you throughout your journey. Once you lose the weight you will then need to focus on maintaining your weight. But if I can do it, anyone can!”

Originally published as 'I lost over 70kg without missing out on life'