After the birth of her first daughter, Rae Willingham, 30, suffered from post natal anxiety and struggled to lose the weight she’d gained while pregnant.
The Melbourne-based mother-of-three was drinking a litre of Coke Zero every day, would regularly eat an entire fruit cake in a day and wasn’t prioritising her health.
But instead of letting it get her down, the determined mother decided to overhaul her lifestyle and has now lost an incredible 25 kilos and dropped from a size 16 to a comfortable size eight.
‘I was struggling with stress and weight gain and I just became a really negative person,’ Rae told FEMAIL.
Rae Willingham, 30, has lost 25 kilos and has never felt so energetic, happy or confident (pictured before and after)
The Melbourne-based mother-of-three was drinking a litre of Coke Zero every day, would regularly eat an entire fruit cake and wasn’t prioritising her health
‘I was eating whatever I wanted to eat without any education and because I was breastfeeding I was hungry all the time and craving energy from starchy carbs and sweets because I wasn’t giving my body leafy greens or healthy options.
‘As time went on and I had more kids, if they fell asleep in the car I would drive through the McDonald’s drive thru and order myself a Big Mac and a Sundae.’
Rae, who was lacking energy and feeling more unfit by the day, decided to prioritise her health and fitness again and signed up to a program called The Healthy Mummy after seeing it online.
‘The meal plans were all about eating the right things when hungry and chucking in vegetables where possible and just adopting a really balanced diet,’ Rae said.
But instead of letting it get her down, the determined mother decided to overhaul her lifestyle and has now lost an incredible 25 kilos and dropped from a size 16 to a comfortable size eight
Rae, who was lacking energy and feeling more unfit by the day, decided to prioritise her health and fitness again and signed up to a program called The Healthy Mummy after seeing it online
‘I was making smoothies for breakfast and eating really good, balanced meals for lunch and dinner and eating nutritious snacks between each meal.
‘I also started walking twice a week and stretching because I was really unfit.’
The best part? The program encouraged her to eat rather than cut out foods, prepare shakes, boil cabbage or drastically cull her portion sizes.
After sticking to it, Rae slowly progressed into at home workouts and within six months she had shed an impressive 15 kilograms and felt more energetic than she’d felt in years.
‘After the first three months habits started to form and it became easy. I was so motivated to lose the next kilo and I progressed into running and group fitness classes and strength training,’ Rae said, who is now studying to become a PT.
‘The meal plans were all about eating the right things when hungry and chucking in vegetables where possible and just adopting a really balanced diet,’ Rae said
After sticking to it, Rae slowly progressed into at home workouts and within six months she had shed an impressive 15 kilograms and felt more energetic than she’d felt in years
‘I am as stubborn as an ox and I was determined to succeed. I have three little girls and for me it’s so important to build them up as children learn by the example they’re set.
‘It’s also not about appearance, it’s about how this has made me feel. I am an energiser bunny now – I shouldn’t be able to do everything I do in a week but I do!’
Rae has also shared tips for getting a great booty after setting herself a goal to tone up and ‘lift the peach’ herself.
Building muscle has been key to Rae and she does three sets of 12 – 15 reps of weighted squats every time she’s at the gym.
She also swears by taking before and after photos to track progress.
‘How far you’ve come is the best motivator when you are having a tough day or week. Each week you may only be seeing small achievements so it’s important to step back and look at the bigger picture,’ she said.
Rae has also shared tips for getting a great booty after setting herself a goal to tone up and ‘lift the peach’ herself
‘It’s all about making those little changes and I want mothers to know it’s possible to make them. We all have 24 hours in a day and when you start prioritising your health that’s when the magic happens,’ she said
Rae, who has left her Coke Zero ‘addiction’ far behind her, now does cardio three times per week and strength training twice a week.
‘I love my life now and I adore the life I’ve created and I’m so excited to spread my message to other women because no woman deserves to feel the way I felt about myself,’ she said.
‘It’s all about making those little changes and I want mothers to know it’s possible to make them. We all have 24 hours in a day and when you start prioritising your health that’s when the magic happens.
‘Show respect to your body by eating good food and listen to yourself, it will change your life.
‘I am no longer the girl who suffered debilitating anxiety and regular panic attacks. The one full of excuses not to go out and enjoy life. I am now this amazing butterfly who loves her life and lives it with no worries (well far fewer, I am still a woman after all!).’