CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet: Woman’s incredible weight loss revealed

A woman has told how a simple eating plan transformed her life after she almost gave up hope.

Kayleen Nuus has spent most of her life overweight and had tried “so many diets” she had almost given up hope.

That was until one day in June a few years ago. She had just quit a highly stressful job and was laying in bed when she saw a morning television program featuring a man who had lost 100kg using the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet.

“I was just like, that’s just insane,” she said. “Then I thought I have to do something while I’m not working, I have to do something to make myself feel better, better my life and everything like that. So I just said ‘yep, this is it. I just have to do it’.”

Kayleen Nuus has spent most of her life overweight and had tried “so many diets” she had almost given up hope. Picture: Supplied

It wasn’t a case of just a few kilos. The then-28-year-old had been overweight for most of her life.

“I’ve always been the fat kid. Always. It really breaks my heart even just thinking about it,” said Mrs Nuus. “But every year I went through in school, I was always the biggest one in the class. Even through high school.”

After reaching a size 22, she was depressed, lethargic, out-of-breath, and had sore joints. She was also desperate to make changes so she could be a good role model for the children she and her husband Nick wanted to have one day.

She said the program was a turning point in her quest to lose weight and lead a healthier life.

“After trying so many other diets, half of me expected to reach that point where I couldn’t sustain it and put the weight back on,” she said.

However, she said she realised pretty early on that this time would be different.

“I didn’t have to sacrifice a thing and three-and-a-half years later, my mindset has never been more clear. I am determined to never return to the habits I had previously,” she said.

Kayleen Nuus lost 51kg in 2 years following the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet. Picture: Supplied

She has been a member of CSIRO diet for 3.5 years. Picture: Supplied

A massive milestone was getting on the scales and seeing her weight had fallen below 100kg – a number she had not seen since she was 11 years old. In two years on the diet, Mrs Nuus lost 51kg.

She credits the weight loss with helping her fall pregnant with her daughter, now aged seven months. And it has given her the confidence to ensure that her daughter grows up with the same healthy eating habits that have changed her whole family’s lives.

“I’m excited for my child to go to school and not have to think about things like that because I know how it affected me, and that’s the last thing I would want for her,” she said.

Her success has been catching. Ms Nuus’s husband, brother, mother and father have also joined the program and lost weight.

And while the young mum relishes the compliments she receives about how great she looks, she gets just as much pleasure from a doctor’s check-up.

“Every time I go to the doctor now and they want to run a blood test I’m not scared what those results are going to come up with as everything is in the right range where it should be,” she said.

“They look at you and they go, you’re a picture of health. That’s a great feeling.”

WARNING OVER FAD DIETS

Australians have been warned to do their research and carefully scrutinise weight loss products and programs before signing up.

January is the month that many people make the decision to do something about losing weight and the diet industry traditionally hits social media and other advertising platforms with a plethora of products, programs and medications.

CSIRO research scientist Dr Gilly Hendrie said that while the new year could be a good motivator, the timing to start any weight loss program was important for success.

“Use the new year, if that’s motivating as a date to embrace a new lifestyle, but you need a couple of days to get organised – you can’t just start eating well if there’s nothing in the fridge or pantry,” she said.

CSIRO research scientist Dr Gilly Hendrie warns Australians to do their research and carefully scrutinise weight loss products and programs before signing up. Picture: Supplied

Dr Hendrie said it was important to treat the flood of weight loss product advertising with a critical eye.

“Do your research and scrutinise the product,” she said. “If people do want to start a program to lose weight then it’s important to look for one that they can see themselves sticking to and they can see fitting into their lifestyle for a longer period of time.

“If there are words like easy and quick, people just need to be a little bit critical and scrutinise those.”

The national science agency this year marks the 10th year of its online CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet. During that time it has also been tracking members’ food and activity habits.

New analysis released today by the CSIRO shows that in the decade since the launch of its online program, 97 per cent of members who completed the program lost weight in 12 weeks.

In total, members of the online diet have lost a combined 558,000kg – the equivalent weight of about 46 double decker buses.

Australian adults gain about five kilograms over a 20-year period, while two thirds of the population are considered overweight or obese.

Since its digital launch, the CSIRO has released more than 10 new tools and features, including its AI weight loss coach, Hope, and a fast-start program involving meal replacement shakes.

The analysis also found that over the past 10 years, 21 per cent of members were moved out of the obese category; the average weight loss increased from 5.2kg to 6.3kg and about one in seven members lost 10 per cent or more of their body weight.

Dr Hendrie said early fast weight loss can be a great motivator, but the most lasting weight loss is achieved with a steady and sustained approach.

“People go into a weight loss program expecting to lose heaps of weight in a short period of time – that doesn’t happen,” she said.

“Weight loss is not a linear process, there’s ups and downs, there’s periods of plateau where your body’s adjusting for whatever reason. And that is absolutely a normal part of the weight loss process.”