I lost 50kg — and here’s how I’ve kept it off for five years

CASS says her whole life changed one night in 2012, which lead to her shedding 50kg. This is how she keeps it off five years later.

CASSANDRA Hili’s whole life changed one night in 2012.

She was 16 — sitting on her couch, ripping off chunks from a pull-apart loaf while watching the movie Burlesque.

Cassandra, who weighed 117kg at the time, was at a low point in her life. She was sick of being ferried between professionals who tried to help her lose weight.

At school, she was constantly bullied. Her mental health suffered and she was depressed, anxious and “very scared” for her future.

While watching the film, Cassandra was so mesmerised by how Christina Aguilera moved around and danced with such ease, she had a light bulb moment.

For more stories like this, go to Body+Soul.

“I looked down at myself and I was like, ‘What am I doing?’

“I want to be able to live a certain lifestyle, I want to be able to move a certain way and there’s no way I’m going to be able to do it by being like this right now’.”

Instantly, Cassandra leapt up off the couch and cleared the entire house of all foods that were considered “junk”.

“I decided that enough was enough.”

At her heaviest, Cassandra weighed 117kg.

And, with iron-clad determination, she began to change her life.

Instead of following a specific diet, Cassandra took the advice the professionals had given her over the years, and tailored it to suit her.

For instance, she started substituting unhealthy foods for healthier ones.

So, instead of scoffing down a bag of chips along with cans of Coke after school, Cassandra began munching on apples with peanut butter, or whipping up a healthy smoothie.

She also changed her portion sizes, and became conscious of choosing foods that made her feel good.

“When it came down to me losing weight, it was simple. It wasn’t complicated. It was just going, ‘OK, what am I going to eat today that will make me feel good and fill me and is something that I would enjoy?’”

Cassandra Hili said when it came down to it, changing her habits was simple.

Cassandra has managed to keep the weight off for the last five years.

And the weight began to fall off rapidly. Within the first six to eight weeks of changing her eating habits, Cassandra had lost 10kg.

Then, she decided to ramp things up and began exercising.

At first, it was just going for a walk after school. Over time, she got into running and, when she’d lost about 25kg, she started doing HIIT training.

As the numbers on the scale kept dropping, Cassandra’s determination to keep getting healthier continued to skyrocket.

Losing all that weight made her feel, for the first time, like she was in control and that she was living the life she was meant to.

“I finally felt like I could breathe,” she said.

Cassandra documented all her changes on her blog and began working with PR agencies and realised she wanted to start her own PR and communications company.

Cassandra Hili said losing weight has affected every aspect of her life.

Cassandra’s now 24.

She’s lost a total of over 50kg (she now fluctuates between 62-65kg) and feels fantastic.

She’s come so far from that day when she first decided to change her life, back when she was just 16.

“Every day I feel that young kid inside of me crying happy tears because I literally am living a life I never thought I’d be able to live.

“Everything stems from my weight loss. The person I am today is because I made that decision,” she said.

“This is a life I never thought I’d be living and I feel very blessed and very excited for what the future’s going to hold.”

Cass said at her heaviest, she would look down at herself and think, ‘What am I doing?’

Cassandra’s typical day on a plate before she changed her lifestyle:

Breakfast: A bacon, egg and ham toastie

Morning tea: A chocolate chip muffin

Lunch: Burger

After school: A bag of chips and cans of Coke

Dinner: Whatever the family was eating, but usually two portions

Dessert: Ice cream or yoghurt

Cass would often have a burger for lunch, and a muffin for morning tea along with ice cream for dessert.

Cassandra’s typical day of eating habits now:

Breakfast: A long black coffee on its own, or with poached eggs on sourdough with smashed avo

Lunch: Tuna salad and a piece of fruit

After work: A handful of baked pea crisps, almonds and a berry or green smoothie

Dinner: Stir-fry or grilled protein with vegetables and a carb

Dessert: A square of dark chocolate

This article originally appeared on Body+Soul and has been republished with permission.