You Got This: Mum kicks $40-a-day habit to lose 51kg

A mother-of-two who once weighed 118kg looks completely different after kicking an expensive $40-a-day habit to lose 51kg.

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After having a rough start in life, Karen Gardener found herself spiralling into unhealthy eating habits, relying heavily on fast food and smoking 40 cigarettes per day.

The then-teenager said she had a negative mindset around food, which she carried into her adult life, causing her to become clinically obese with high blood pressure.

At 118kg, Ms Gardener knew that if she didn’t revamp her lifestyle choices, it could lead to severe health implications.

“In 2017, I finally had my light bulb moment. I had no short-term goal and my only goal was to keep on going for as long as it takes,” the Sydney mum told news.com.au.

“That day I walked through the doors at my local WW workshop and I never looked back. I finally started to enjoy my lifestyle changes and I have learnt how to cook and prepare meals for my family.”

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Karen Gardener, 39, a nurse from Sydney, weighed 118kg before her embarking on her transformation in 2017. Picture: Supplied

Ms Gardener, who has since lost 51kg, said her unhealthy eating habits began she left home at age 15.

“I started to work and would turn to fast foods because I never got taught how to properly cook or fuel my body,” she said.

For breakfast most days, Ms Gardener said she would stop at a bakery to purchase a cheese and bacon roll, apple danish and a 600ml mocha milk.

“I would also purchase some fresh bread rolls to have at lunch smothered with butter and peanut butter or Vegemite.”

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The mother-of-two, who once smoked 40 cigarettes a day, said her unhealthy eating habits spiralled out of control. Picture: Supplied

Karen has gone on to lose 51kg. Picture: Supplied

The mother-of-two said she would also regularly drink full sugar Coke and a snack between each meal.

“Not only did I have unhealthy eating habits, I was also a very heavy smoker and had absolutely no energy,” she said.

“I would come home daily from work and just sleep. I didn’t participate in fun things such as outdoor activities and sports. I always sat by watching because I had no confidence.”

Ms Gardener, who is a nurse in a nursing home, said she would spend roughly $280 a week on cigarettes, but the moment she decided to quit in 2017, was the moment her life turned around.

RELATED: Mum’s shock at own ‘dramatic’ weight loss

After she quit smoking, she focused on getting her food on track, before starting to exercise. Picture: Supplied

“Once I’d given up smoking and started getting my food on track, I wanted to start exercising,” she said, explaining she began by going for walks.

Soon after, she joined WW [formerly known as Weight Watchers], where she faced her “biggest challenge” – her mindset.

“I had success with the program in the past, and knew it would work if I stuck to it so I just threw myself into the weekly meetings, tracking my foods through the SmartPoint system,” she said.

Before long, her walking turned into jogging and then she signed up for gym classes.

She said for someone who never participated in any activities, she can now do things she never dreamt of including kayaking and swimming. Picture: Supplied

However, after reaching her goal weight of 51.6kgs, Ms Gardener suffered a heart attack in March last year.

Aged 38, the shock incident made her wonder what would have happened if she hadn’t overhauled her life.

“I couldn’t believe this had happened when I was the healthiest I had ever been,” she said.

“It was at that moment that it really hit home.

“I thought, ‘I still followed my old lifestyle, I could quite possibly not be here today to share my story’.”

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Karen said she can now rock a bikini with confidence. Picture: Supplied

Now she no longer sits on the sideline watching, explaining she can “finally rock a bikini with confidence”.

“I’ve become the active mum I’ve always wanted to be,” she said.

“For anyone wanting to take the leap, I say go for it.

“Don’t be afraid if you have a bad week – it’s the power of getting straight back on track that makes all the difference.”

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