An ’emotional eater’ who spent more than $960 a month on her junk food habit has lost a staggering 50 kilos and seven dress sizes after ditching her unhealthy diet.
Zarshua Mack, 31, a mum-of-two from Brisbane, Queensland, said her bad eating began spiralling out of control in her late teens and early twenties and she reached a weight of 123 kilos.
She admitted to splurging on snacks and fast food on a daily basis – even after dinner – and would often eat a large kebab and chips, Thai food, ice cream and chocolate ‘out of boredom’.
An ’emotional eater’ who spent more than $960 a month on her junk food habit has lost a staggering 50 kilos and seven dress sizes after ditching her unhealthy diet (left before and right after)
‘I was athletic throughout my teens and I had to eat high calorie meals to ensure I had the energy when swimming or playing basketball but when I got to 19, I began partying and stopped playing sports but continued to eat large portions,’ Zarshua said.
‘I tried every diet in the book but I could never stick to it and after the birth of my children Zayn, eight and Atley, four, I piled on the weight even more.
‘I was a stay-at-home mum for eight years and boredom would make me eat. My husband Martin, 32, worked in the mines in a remote town called Karratha – there wasn’t anything to do other than have a BBQ which came hand in hand with drinking, smoking and overeating.’
Zarshua said she would often eat ‘loads’ of hot dogs before dinner at sporting activities and was constantly going out of her way to buy takeaway food.
Zarshua Mack, 31, a mum-of-two from Brisbane, Queensland, said her bad eating began spiralling out of control in her late teens and early twenties and she reached a weight of 123 kilos
Zarshua’s bad eating habits began to spiral out of control causing her to ‘gorge on carbs’ and she became depressed with her size 24 frame so decided to get a $6,000 gastric sleeve operation (left before and right after)
‘I was an emotional eater – I would eat if I was happy and eat if I was sad. I was depressed and desperate to work but the cost of child care was too pricey and I began to feel unworthy,’ she said.
‘Despite cooking healthy dinners for my family, I would go up for two or three times after – I would then lie down to digest my food like a snake whilst wallowing in my own self-pity.’
Zarshua’s bad eating habits began to spiral out of control causing her to ‘gorge on carbs’ and she became depressed with her size 24 frame so decided to get a $6,000 gastric sleeve operation to assist with losing weight.
She was hesitant about getting the procedure – which involves removing part of the stomach – as she felt like a ‘cheat’ for opting for an ‘easy way out’.
‘My husband and I sat down at the start of the year and looked at our finances – we were mortified by the amount wasted on food – now we can now put the money towards our children’s future,’ she said
But she decided to go ahead with it in March, 2019, and has never looked back.
‘I felt like a fraud for a few weeks post op but it was my only option and I have used it as a tool that helped me start exercising again,’ she said.
‘I want to break the stigma and show people I’m not lazy, I just needed a kick start.
‘It was hard to adjust to a healthier lifestyle as bad food and drinks were all I knew but had to make a lot of deliberate changes and now I feel physically and mentally better.
‘My stomach is smaller than my four-year-old’s and I never indulge on greasy takeaways.’
‘As a mum and a wife, it is hard to put yourself first but I had to and I couldn’t be happier as I finally feel worthy,’ she said
Zarshua now weighs 72 kilos and is feeling healthier and fitter than ever.
‘My husband and I sat down at the start of the year and looked at our finances – we were mortified by the amount wasted on food – now we can now put the money towards our children’s future,’ she said.
‘The main reason for getting the surgery other than to lose weight was to change habits, to grow mentally and to have a life style I wanted to be proud of.
‘As a mum and a wife, it is hard to put yourself first but I had to and I couldn’t be happier as I finally feel worthy.
‘My family have blossomed and grown so much closer as we have moved back to the city, I am working again and we spend more time positively together. ‘