YOU GOT THIS: Mum’s shock at own ‘dramatic’ weight loss

Melissa Timmer was so afraid about people judging her, she stopped going to her son’s swim classes. Then she made a “dramatic” change.

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When Melissa Timmer looked back on old photos she realised just how much her appearance had changed.

The mother of two, who once weighed 107kg, struggled to recognise herself after losing an impressive 37kg, over four years.

She recently shared a before and after snap to her Instagram, even surprising herself at how different she now looks.

“You tend to forget how big you were and it’s not until you look back at old photos when you realise, ‘wow, I have changed in such a dramatic way’,” Ms Timmer told news.com.au

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Melissa Timmer in one of her old photos. Picture: Instagram

She said she didn’t realise how much her face had changed until she looked back on old photos. Picture: Instagram

The 32-year-old from the NSW Central Coast said she decided to change her lifestyle in March 2017 “for me (of course) but also for my kids”.

“I realised I needed to make a change so my kids could be proud of their mum and so I could keep up with them and be active,” she said.

Ms Timmer said she had always struggled with her weight at school but when it came to a point where she couldn’t attend her son’s swimming lessons out of fear of other people’s judgment, she had to take action.

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Melissa, who weighed 107kg, said she had always struggled with her weight. Picture: The Healthy Mummy

After make a change to her lifestyle in 2017, she went on to lose 37kg. Picture: The Healthy Mummy

“I hated going anywhere as nothing looked good on me,” she told news.com.au

“It got to the point where I couldn’t hide behind my clothes anymore because nothing was fitting me properly.”

She recalled a moment when she was 28 and had no choice but to shop where her mother would go to “because stores for my age group didn’t stock my size”.

“It wasn’t me so I knew I had to make a change.”

At the time, Ms Timmer said she didn’t understand “portion sizes and balance” and would often eat whenever she felt hungry.

“I would aim to eat vegetables and fruit but it was all with the wrong foods, for example high sugar yoghurts with fruit, veggies with one to many schnitzels, high sugar ice creams, takeaways and pizza — where as now I still enjoy all those foods but in a healthier, more controlled way.”

Melissa said she ate whenever she felt hungry and struggled to control her portion sizes, often opting for takeaway foods. Picture: The Healthy Mummy

After becoming sick of yoyo dieting, Ms Timmer joined The Healthy Mummy — an online healthy eating and weight loss program.

“I wanted a program to help keep the weight off while I could breastfeed my daughter,” she said.

And that she did, going on to lose an impressive 37kg.

“It made me realise that life after having kids doesn’t have to end. I still mattered and my body could be the strongest it had ever been.”

However, the mum-of-two admitted there were plenty of challenges along the way, particularly the frustration of not seeing “immediate results”.

“It can feel like it drags day-by-day. I think it took about four to five months before I saw drastic changes, but you have to remind yourself if you don't be patient and do it now, it will never happen on its own.”

Melissa (second from left) is now a Healthy Mummy super coach, offering tips and advice to fellow mums embarking on their lifestyle journey. Picture: The Healthy Mummy

Ms Timmer began with drinking three to four litres of water every day and trained three times a week, for an hour each time.

She said meal prepping is also a big help.

“Even if it’s just having snacks ready to go, I cut up all my veggies at the start of the week so when it comes to meal time I’m not cutting up or making extra mess,” she said.

“I make my meals easy and quick so I’m not spending hours in the kitchen and I repeat my snacks so I keep the cost down.

After about one year into her new lifestyle, she realised just how much she loved exercise and upped her training to five days a week.

“I started off with mostly cardio classes then worked my way up to weights.”

She is also a super coach for The Healthy Mummy, motivating other mums on their weight loss journey and regularly sharing tips and advice.

“Anything is possible, don’t expect to get results if you’re not willing to put in the hard work.

“Track all your food, and reward yourself for being great.”

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