A mum-of-two whose weight escalated after living off an unhealthy diet of fast food meals and binge drinking has revealed how she shed 20 kilos without depriving herself of foods she loves.
Steph Pase, from New South Wales, said she noticed her weight spiralled out of control within 12 months when she was on the party scene at the age of 20.
‘I was very much into the whole binge drinking culture so on the weekends I’d go out and drink too much, and I ate a lot of fast food,’ the now-30-year-old said.
‘Literally every day, I was eating fast food… and at that point, I gained 25 kilos in 12 months so obviously my youthful metabolism slowed right down.’
But determined to get on top of her weight once and for all, she slimmed down after counting her macros rather than follow strict diets and exercising three days a week.
Steph Pase, from New South Wales, whose weight escalated after living off an unhealthy diet of fast food meals and binge drinking at age 20 (left) has revealed how she shed 25 kilos without depriving herself of foods she loves
She said she noticed her weight spiralled out of control within 12 months when she was on the party scene at the age of 20
But determined to get on top of her weight once and for all, she slimmed down after counting her macros rather than follow strict diets and exercising three days a week.
She credits ‘flexible dieting’ for her svelte physique where she ate 80 per cent wholefoods and 20 per cent of anything she wants, within reason.
‘If I met Steph from 10 years ago, I probably wouldn’t even recognise her, she was depressed, binge drank to numb out her anxiety every weekend, ate s*** and felt s***,’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘I got to the point one day where someone showed me a photo of myself and I didn’t even recognise the girl in the photo.’
Before losing weight, Steph said she suffered chronic headaches, fatigue, anxiety, depression, bad self-esteem and insomnia.
She credits ‘flexible dieting’ for her svelte physique where she ate 80 per cent wholefoods and 20 per cent of anything she wants, within reason
The organisation queen has gained a legion of fans on Instagram for sharing her tips on home organisation, weekly meal plans and her perfectly arranged kitchen pantry
Steph now leads a healthier lifestyle. She always ensures her fridge is packed with healthy ingredients. Inside her fridge, she strategically arranges every shelf to avoid food wastage
‘It wasn’t the weight that was the issue; it was how s*** I felt… my sleep apnea was the worst it ever was,’ she said.
‘I decided I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I went home told Ryan [husband] I was joining the gym – he laughed of course because I tried many times before – but this time was different.’
And so she started working out at the gym and eating healthy.
‘I put my tunnel vision on – yes I was anxious to walk into a gym but I knew it was worth it. I was focusing on making a lifestyle change not a fad diet, shakes or living on cabbage soup. I was determined to better myself and my health forever,’ she said.
‘Once I started focusing on eating proper foods that didn’t come from a Drive-Thru or a box, and moving my body just three times a week, the weight fell off but most of all – the real Steph came back.’
The super organised mum shares her weekly meal plans – where she makes healthy dinners for her family, including their favourite foods such as burgers, pizzas, tacos and pasta
The organisation queen has gained a legion of fans on Instagram for sharing her tips on home organisation, weekly meal plans and her perfectly arranged kitchen pantry
She went on to lose more weight but she found herself ‘even more depressed’ than she was when she was heavier when she ‘restricted’ herself.
‘At the very start it was obviously to lose the weight and then I ended up getting a bit more obsessive with it,’ she said.
‘I ended up having a really bad relationship with food. I would eat very strict like chicken breast and beans… and I was so unhappy.
‘There’s no point having abs if you can’t even enjoy yourself. You only have one life. So for me, it’s all about its balance.’
Steph started learning about macronutrients – protein, carbohydrate and fat – and she was able to enjoy a healthy balanced diet without giving up her favourite meals like tacos, pizzas, pasta and burgers.
‘It’s not a strict diet where you’re just deprived, you can have chocolate or vodka if you want,’ she said after ditching the binge drinking culture.
She added: ‘If you are sick of feeling like s***, here is your sign to move your body, focus on your small habits and change your lifestyle for good. Life is too short to be at war with yourself everyday.’
The organisation queen has gained a legion of fans on Instagram for sharing her tips on home organisation, weekly meal plans and her perfectly arranged kitchen pantry.