'I lost 25kg in 9 months, and never felt hungry'

And regained a healthy state of mind

For South Australian mother of three Santana Kingi, pregnancy and age were the catalysts for weight gain. Image: Getty

Santana Kingi knew something had to change when she lacked the energy to even go for a walk. That's because the food she was consuming lacked nutrients, and her kids and business took priority over her own wellbeing. Since starting Lite n’ Easy, Santana's turned her life around - and she's looking and feeling better than ever.

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For South Australian mother of three Santana Kingi, pregnancy and age were the catalysts for weight gain.

By her mid-thirties she found herself reaching for unhealthy food options like burgers and hot chips on the regular, and polishing off her kids’ leftovers.

When she wasn’t caring for her three kids, she was running her own business. “Due to the lack of time and energy from the low-nutrient foods I never had the energy to go for walks or to the gym,” Santana tells Body+Soul.

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When shopping for clothing became near impossible, it started to impact Santana mentally. "I enjoyed vlogging and posting makeup tutorials online, however my weight gain made me lose confidence and I no longer wanted to post due to the fear of being judged by my weight gain," she admitted.

In the end, Santana realised she needed to prioritise herself first in order to run a household and a business. 

"For me it was the constant tiredness, the way I was looking in the mirror," she said. "I felt I no longer recognised myself."

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It was in that moment Santana discovered Lite n’ Easy, and within nine months, she'd lost an incredible 24kg off her 94kg frame. 

Unlike a lot of people embarking on a weight loss journey, Santana didn't struggle in the early stages because of Lite n' Easy's meal plans. For her, they not only provided nutritious portion sizes, but they made parenting and juggling her business easier, too.

"With my meals prepped and knowing that I was getting the right intake of food and calories at the right times of day, not only did I have a great routine established, I also had a better mental state of mind," she said.

Before and after: It was exhaustion that finally made Santana see she needed to prioritise herself first for everything else to blossom. Images: Supplied.

A typical day on a plate for Santana

Breakfast: "A bowl of muesli or cereal, and toast."

Lunch: "A sandwich, wrap or salad." 

Dinner: "I have the luxury to choose from all my pre-ordered dinner options. These options usually consist of butter chicken, Atlantic salmon, or chicken parmigiana." 

Snacks: "Lite n’ Easy also provides snacks through the day of fresh fruit, fruit cups and the perfectly portioned nuts and cheese and crackers." 

A typical week of exercise

Santana said it didn't take long for her to hit the pavement. "I enjoy my regular walks", she said, adding that playtime with her kids is much more enjoyable these days. 

Her journey: Santana's lost almost 25kg thanks to Lite n' Easy. Images: Supplied.

The biggest lessons Santana learnt through Lite n' Easy

"The biggest lesson I learnt was how determined and disciplined I was once I made my mind up to lose the weight," she recalled. "Nothing could steer me away from my goal. I can do anything! My hunger for the finish line was stronger than my appetite!" 

Her biggest challenges

"The biggest challenge for me was coming from a cultural background where we often would come together to celebrate events or catch up over food," Santana explained.

But she didn't let that get in the way of her goal. "I adjusted to this by eating prior to the occasion, or so I didn’t feel left out, I would take my meal with me." 

Santana's advice for others trying to lose weight

If, like Santana, you've tried other avenues to lose weight, and haven't found anything that sticks - try Lite n' Easy.

"You can do it!" she said. "You honestly will have peace of mind knowing that you are putting the right amount of food and nutrients into your body to reach your weight loss goals, and you will enjoy doing more things you love with the people you love. I recommend it to everyone!"

Join tens of thousands of other Aussies who have reached their goals with Lite n' Easy. For more information, visit Lite n' Easy.

Originally published as 'I lost 25kg in 9 months, and never felt hungry'