I lost 40kg in 16 months — and I’m still able to enjoy cookie dough croissants

At her heaviest, Georgina Willard weighed almost 90kg and didn’t feel healthy. But she used specific kinds of goals to help her lose 40kg — and she still enjoys cookie-dough croissants.

At the height of the Covid pandemic, Georgina Willard lost her job as an international flight attendant and began eating to cope with the enormous stress.

The 32-year-old, from Schofields in outer Western Sydney, was always active before the lockdowns and walked 20,000 steps a day.

“I definitely call myself a victim of the Covid kilos,” she said.

“I spent 12 weeks almost trying to find a job. I started working in an office job and I wasn’t getting up and about.

“All of these factors led to these kilos coming on. I could feel my clothes getting tighter and not fitting the same.”

At her highest weight of almost 90kg, Ms Willard was looking through photos from an Easter lunch with her partner’s family.

Georgina Willard after losing almost 40kg. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Georgina Willard before she changed her lifestyle.

It was at that moment she knew that she needed to take her health seriously and she decided to sign up the CSIRO’s Total Wellbeing Diet program.

“One of my colleagues from the office job I was working in had lost 20kg by doing it,” she said.

She said she began exercising and made healthier food choices, including preparing smoothies and big bowls of salad with protein.

“When I started the program I weighed 88.1kg and I now weigh 49kg, it’s been life-changing to achieve this in 16 months.

“I was also consistently attending pilates and stayed active.”

Georgina Willard says setting smaller goals helped her stay motivated.

Research from the CSIRO has found that personalised goals — targets that are adjusted for factors including starting weight, age, gender, and lifestyle — are most effective when trying to lose weight.

“Achieving smaller, tailored milestones along the way made my larger goal feel more attainable and within reach,” Ms Willard said.

New analysis of more than 22,000 CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet members shows that while most participants set ambitious weight loss goals of about 20kg at the start of the program, only three per cent were able to achieve them within 12 weeks.

But the research showed customised goals led to better longer-term outcomes, with 47 per cent of members losing between seven and 11kg in 12 weeks.

CSIRO research scientist Dr Gilly Hendrie said the CSIRO used an AI tool to personalise the goals.

“This level of personalisation leads to better outcomes – our research shows that almost all members who achieved the personalised goals lost significant amounts of weight within 12 weeks,” Dr Hendrie said.

Georgina Willard after she put on Covid kilos.

When she weighed almost 90kg.

“A common pitfall is setting overly ambitious goals that require changes in behaviour that don’t align with a person’s current circumstances or lifestyle.

“Consistency is also important; success often hinges on regular behaviours such as tracking food intake, following meal plans, and weighing in.”

Ms Willard, who is excited about her upcoming wedding in the Caribbean next year, said she had become an “inspiring influence” for family and friends.

“My eczema has become basically non-existent and I have an appreciation for fashion,” she said.

Georgina Willard says she feels healthier now after following the CSIRO program. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I relish the simple things – evenings out with friends, leisurely coastal walks with a

smoothie in hand, or a casual stroll to the coffee shop for a fresh cup of coffee and a

cookie-dough croissant.

“I am so excited to feel my best at my wedding next year and for all that’s ahead.”

Originally published as I lost 40kg in 16 months — and I’m still able to enjoy cookie dough croissants