Mum’s calorie deficit approach helps her shed a whopping 30kg

This mum was so ashamed of how she looked, she refused to leave the house or would hide behind her kids as a way to “shield” her overweight body.

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Stay-at-home mum Fiona Skinner used to be so ashamed of how unhealthy she was, she would often lie to her children to avoid leaving the house.

The 30-year-old described her life as a “living hell” using foods as a means of “comfort” which led to severe depression.

“I cried if we had to leave the house,” the Gold Coast mum told news.com.au. “I was so worried that people were looking at me that I kept my head down and avoided eye contact.”

RELATED: Woman’s stunning 18kg transformation through flexible eating

Gold Coast mum Fiona Skinner lost a whopping 30kg after changing her poor lifestyle habits.

The 30-year-old weighed 92kg at her heaviest.

RELATED: Brisbane mum loses 55kg after being overweight most of her life

She said swimming was never an option for her, nor did she play with her kids.

“I would fake having a headache or be tired to stay home from the park trips,” she said.

If she had to go out, Ms Skinner, who weighed 92kg at the time, would use her baby carrier strap as a way to shield her body.

“Or I would push the pram and hide behind it,” she said.

She would often decline social initiations from family and friends, but “the penny dropped” for the young mum in September 2018 when she could no longer stand living the way she was.

She manages her weight by controlling the amount of calories she consumes daily (calorie deficit approach), combined with daily walks and exercise.

TWO WORDS THAT CHANGED FIONA’S LIFE

When scrolling through her Instagram feed at the time, the mother-of-two came across a post with the term “calorie deficit” – essentially eating less than what you burn.

She used the approach, controlling her calorie intake, together with walking most days, to help shed the kilos.

“I saw this foreign word and Googled and researched it to fully understand what it was about,” Ms Skinner told news.com.au.

“I had lost over 20kg twice in my life before but never understood how calories worked and always gained it back and more.”

Ms Skinner had initially lost her first 10kg following a meal replacement diet that involved shakes, but after further nutritional research she realised she didn’t have to give up all the foods she liked.

Now that she has lost the weight, her goal is to build strength.

“I had learned more about calories in versus calories out and that I didn’t need to restrict the types of foods I ate — that I could eat anything I wanted as long as I was in a calorie deficit,” she said.

“Each day I fast until lunch time, when I will have a protein bar, then a dinner of a protein and salad or vegetables, and I always make sure I have calories left for dessert.”

She will either have a Magnum ice cream or a few rows of chocolate.

“This is how I have been successful by not cutting any food groups, restricting myself but by eating the foods I love in moderation.”

Now that Ms Skinner has shed 30kg, she is focusing her attention on building her strength, instead of the number on the scales.

A normal day of eating once consisted of huge portions of pasta, ice cream, chocolate and various other fast foods.

She said she wants to continue to live an active life, play with her kids, which she once couldn’t do, and feel healthy and fit.

FIONA’S OBSESSIVE FAST-FOOD DIET BEFORE 30KG WEIGHT LOSS

Prior to her weight loss, the Gold Coast mum was eating all day, on the hour.

“I ate even when I wasn’t hungry,” she said.

“At the height of my weight I would be eating a big bowl of Coco Pops for breakfast, a packet of chocolate biscuits over the course of a day like Tim Tams or chocolate royals — lunch would be the previous night’s dinner leftovers like a big serving of curry potatoes and rice.”

And throughout the afternoon she would start on a large block of chocolate and family bag of chips.

“Come dinner time I would not be hungry but I would still eat another big heavy starchy and rich meal.”

Every single night for dessert she would have a chocolate Sundae with flakes from McDonald’s.

“And the chocolate block would be finished too.”

Ms Skinner said looking in the mirror today, she sees a completely different person.

“I am happy to be in photos, without putting one of my children in front of me to hide my body,” she said.

“Some days I am sad about having loose skin, but I am quick to remind myself that loose skin is a thousand times better than it being filled with dangerous fat.”

WHAT MOTIVATES FIONA TO PUSH THROUGH

If there is one quote she lives by it’s: “Winners never quit and quitters never win.”

“My advice would be, you don’t have to wait until after that event or until Monday, you can start now, even if you’ve had a ‘bad meal’ you don’t have to wait until tomorrow to start.

“The time will pass regardless; it’s what we do with it that matters.”

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