Mum loses 60 kilos after giving up Coke and energy drinks

And it might not be what you think.

Melbourne mum Nicole Taitua shares her health transformation, and how she lost 60kg.

 

 

Stumbling downstairs to the fridge it was time for breakfast. I popped open a cold can of V energy drink and as it slipped down my throat I got the quick energy hit I needed for the day of kid-wrangling ahead.

"Time for school," I called to my kids Tahli, Punaika and Hikawera' and we tumbled out of the house, in a rush like always.

With the kids, work and my husband, Leonard, working long hours, there never seemed to be time for breakfast or lunch.

It was easier to drink Coke or energy drinks to get me through the day and I’d cook a big meal, like chicken kiev and cheesy potato bake, in the evening. 

I was easily drinking seven cans a day and it wasn’t long before this habit locked me into a vicious cycle. As the kilos piled on, losing them went on my never ending ‘to do’ list.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

On my wedding day with Leonard. Image: supplied.

"Putting my head in the sand was an easier option"

I’d always been on the big side. When I met Leonard I was a size 20 and I was 101 kg after my first pregnancy. After that, I stopped looking. 

"Diets don’t work," I told friends as I listed all the unsuccessful programs I’d tried. 

Putting my head in the sand was an easier option.

RELATED: Expert reveals the dangers associated with losing weight while breastfeeding

My weight has been an issue for a long time. Image: supplied.

"My weight escalated to 146kg"

But as my weight escalated to 146kg, something else was crumbling. My 12 year relationship was falling apart. Neither of us were happy and I didn’t know what to do to fix things.

"You’ve got to focus on you," my friend, Jodie, said, helping me figure out some answers. 

I wanted to feel healthy and desirable again. I had to lose weight.

I embarked on my weight loss journey to feel healthy again. Image: supplied.

Swapping Cokes for smoothies

It was that week I saw an ad for the Healthy Mummy diet on Facebook and I decided to give some of the recipes a go. They were pretty good!

Then I tried their smoothies for breakfast. I knew they were better for me than Coke and I managed to cut out my three cans a day. 

RELATED: Rebel Wilson's 28kg weight loss began after freezing her eggs

Going through 120 tubs of Healthy Mummy smoothies, helped me lose 60kg. Image: supplied.

Splitting headaches, the shakes and the sweats

Next was the energy drinks. I didn’t expect it to be so hard.

"I feel terrible," I groaned a day after stopping, cold turkey. I had a splitting headache and I got the shakes and the sweats.

Incredibly I managed it though and my new diet started giving me more energy than when I was drinking all the caffeine. The weight started falling off, too - five, 10, 20kg.

My new diet fuelled me with more energy than energy drinks ever did. Image: supplied.

"I never thought I'd get under 100kg"

When I reached 99.95kg I sent the photo of the scales to all my friends and family. 

"I never thought I’d get under 100kg," I said.

Within 18 months I’d hit 86kg. I’d lost 60kg and was a size 12-14!

"I’m so proud of you," Leonard told me. We’d gone our different ways but, becoming happier with ourselves, we're able to start finding our way together again.

RELATED: I did a four week reset challenge and here’s what happened

Leonard and I are both becoming happier with ourselves. Image: supplied.

"Ready to tackle anything"

After that I was ready to tackle anything and next on the list was the cigarettes. 

I’d smoked 20 a day for 25 years but I was determined to change and, like with the energy drinks, I went cold turkey. I’m now 170 days smoke free.

It hasn’t gone without its challenges and with all the Covid restrictions my exercise regime slipped. It means I’ve put on some weight again but I know what I need to do this time and, even better, I’m excited to do it.

Originally published as Mum loses 60 kilos after giving up Coke and energy drinks