50yo mum’s huge weight loss journey, without any running

Seeing almost triple figures on the scale meant enough was enough.

WITH the commencement of a new year comes all the good intentions of living a fitter, healthier lifestyle.

But as we know all too well, the majority of people will get to Australia Day and replace the coconut water and quinoa with a pie and a nice, cold beer.

However for the select few who stick to their fitness regime comes the impressive results and, in some cases, a whole new life.

One such person is Noosa resident, Kim Costelow.

In the past 18 months, Kim has lost close to a third of her body weight and she did it without going for a single run.

Kim has been a member of Jetts Fitness in Noosa for the past 18 months, losing 28kgs from her body and keeping it off.

The 50-year-old decided enough was enough after she stood on the scales and looked down only to see the number that came up was alarming close to triple figures.

"I put on a lot of weight after 50 trips around the sun," Kim said.

"Once you hit mid-life your body goes through a lot of changes.

At 93 kgs, Kim was at the heaviest weight she had ever been.

"I was disappointed in myself," she said.

"It was definitely at a turning point.

"Unless I did something drastic, things weren't going to change."

"I put on a lot of weight after 50 trips around the sun.' Noosa resident, Kim Costelow.

Because of her weight, Kim avoided being seen by people and it affected how she interacted with her family.

"I would go to the beach, but I didn't feel comfortable in a swimming costume," she said.

"I would wait on the beach while the kids went for a swim or a surf."

As she made her way to the gym on that first, memorable day, Kim felt intimidated and overwhelmed.

"I was extremely self conscious," she said.

But as she recalls, the people at the gym made her feel most welcome.

"When I first walked in everyone was fantastic," she said.

"The atmosphere was very friendly and all the trainers have been 100 per cent supportive."

"I put on a lot of weight after 50 trips around the sun.' Noosa resident, Kim Costelow.

Kim thought she had a reasonable good diet, but after joining the gym and working with a trainer she realised she could tweak a few things.

"I cut sugar out of my diet," she said.

"As a woman we tend to under eat, then our metabolism shuts down."

 

'A lot of woman think lifting weights will make them bulky, but it just isn't the case.'

Perhaps the most remarkable part of Kim's weight loss journey is that during the past 18 months of training, she is yet to go for a single run.

An unusual accomplishment which she is more than happy about.

"I hate running," Kim said.

"When I first started at the gym I thought it would be a lot of boring, long hours on the treadmill.

"But you don't need to be running to get your heart rate up."

"I put on a lot of weight after 50 trips around the sun.' Noosa resident, Kim Costelow.

Thanks to the valuable advice from her trainers, like Jane Muir, Kim has learnt the importance of strength training for women.

"Jane keeps things fresh and fun, it never gets boring," she said.

"A lot of woman think lifting weights will make them bulky, but it just isn't the case."

Kim during one of her four weekly training sessions.

These days, Kim goes to the gym four days a week for up to 60 minutes at a time.

Her advice to anyone looking to start a fitness routine this year was simple.

"Just start and just keep going," she said.

"Don't be too hard on yourself - we all fall down, we all hit plateaus.

"A weight loss is called a journey for reason, it's never a straight line," she said.

"Incorporate it as part of your lifestyle and make it fun."

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