A mother with a sweet tooth has revealed how she shed 15 kilograms by simply tweaking her diet – and she still enjoys muffins and pasta.
Sarah Van Dyke, from Queensland, had lived off an unhealthy diet where she was eating processed foods, chocolates and chips daily.
But after seeing a photograph of herself on Christmas Day, she knew she needed to do something about her weight.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 38-year-old mother spoke about how she overhauled her diet after making simple changes to her lifestyle.
Queensland Sarah Van Dyke (pictured before and after) has revealed how she shed 15 kilograms simply by changing her diet
She learned how to eat healthy while still finding the flexibility to enjoy foods she love
Before embarking on her fitness journey, Ms Van Dyke said she found herself feeling constantly exhausted.
‘I was feeling really unhappy within my own skin. I was tired all the time and had no energy. I felt like it was so hard to just do simple things,’ she said.
‘I was wearing clothes because they fitted, not because they were really what I wanted to wear. I knew I needed to make some changes.’
She said her weight spiralled out of control when she became an emotional eater.
‘My diet before weight loss contained a lot of processed quick foods,’ she said.
‘I also always had chocolates and chips around and consumed them daily. I also wasn’t great at drinking water.’
Her turning point came after she saw a picture of herself at Christmas.
‘My turning point was that I needed to put myself first,’ she said.
‘As a mother you always put others first and so I needed to give myself permission to be number one for a while.’
The mother keeps a daily track on all meals – from breakfast and snacks to lunch and dinners
Her fitness regime now involves walking and doing yoga at home a few times a week
As she tried to lose weight, she faced several challenges.
‘I had a few challenges throughout my journey, but they were mainly me getting in my own way,’ she said.
‘The fear of failure is something that I struggled with.’
But in January 2011, she turned to Weight Watchers where she was able to lose 15 kilograms in just nine months without cutting out her favourite treats.
‘The program gave me the freedom and flexibility to enjoy foods I love while losing weight,’ she said.
She also learned how to eat healthy while still finding the flexibility to enjoy foods she love.
‘I didn’t find it difficult at all,’ Ms Van Dyke said.
‘I was guided towards a healthier pattern of eating while still giving me the freedom and flexibility to enjoy foods I love – everything is still on the menu.’
Her fitness regime now involves walking and doing yoga from the comfort of her home a few times a week.
‘I am a single mum so finding me time is difficult but important,’ she said.
The mother said her weight spiralled out of control when she became an emotional eater
The mother keeps a daily track on all meals – from breakfast and snacks to lunch and dinners
Ms Van Dyke, who is now a healthy 66 kilograms, also follows a healthier meal plan, but she also gets to enjoy everything her favourite meals, including pasta.
‘I start my day with Apple pie oats or egg and toast. Morning tea is yogurt with some nuts and a piece of fruit,’ she said.
‘Lunch is a wrap with chicken breast and salad or leftovers from last night’s dinner. Afternoon tea is a piece of fruit or avocado on corn thins.
‘For dinner, I cook Salmon and vegetables or one of my recipes – Cajun barramundi with rice, easy pasta bake or Tuscan chicken most days.’
For dessert, she would eat a sticky date pudding or a Nutella muffin.
‘Life is hectic and busy but good food helps to keep us on track and get the most out of life. I love creating recipes that are healthy but more importantly yummy.’
The mother revealed how she overhauled her diet after making simple changes to her lifestyle
Her day on a plate: Some of the healthy and nutritious meals she whips up for herself daily
And she has become such an avid cook, Ms Van Dyke set up her social media pages to share her delicious food recipes to her followers.
For those struggling to lose weight, Ms Van Dyke said: ‘It is really important to love ourselves no matter what size we are.
‘If we fail to love ourselves now it is so hard to love ourselves when we get to goal. Be kind to yourself and start your journey now so you are one step closer to your goals.
‘You don’t have to put your life on hold to lose weight with Weight Watchers – it’s simple, flexible and freeing – for maximum livability.’
For Sarah Van Dyke’s weight loss journey on Instagram or Facebook.