How a mother-of-two lost 55 kilos in 18 months

Sarah Broad was just 43-years-old when she visited the doctor, hoping they would help her manic stress levels and constant struggle to fall asleep. 

But instead of prescribing a ‘quick fix’ as the Sydney-based mother-of-two was hoping, Sarah was told her blood pressure was dangerously high and if she didn’t lose weight she was likely going to develop diabetes.

At the time the now-49-year-old tipped the scales at 146 kilos.

AFTER: What began as a tentative few steps inside a commercial gym led the determined mum to drop 55 kilos in 18 months

‘I was raising two kids and working full-time at the family car rental business, indulging in fad diets like shakes and low-protein and not exercising,’ she told FEMAIL.

‘[The doctor’s visit] was the huge wake up call I needed. My friends, husband and kids had all told me I needed to drop the kilos but until I got that news I just wasn’t ready.

‘I knew if I didn’t I may not be around to see my family grow up.’

After the visit she immediately went for a walk and returned home to find a flyer for a personal training studio in her mailbox. A sign.

So she joined the gym the very next day. 

‘Chris [my trainer] was perfectly matched to me. I worked alongside him for four years. He was actually the one to encourage me to buy Vision Personal Training Studio in Wahroonga,’ she said

She was doing cardio and weight-based training interchangeably every day and eating lots of healthy fats, lean meats and veggies (Sarah with her son Alexander right)

‘My daughter Chantal had to literally hold my hand and help me sign up. I don’t think I would have walked in there without her,’ she said.

But what began as a tentative few steps inside a commercial gym led the determined mum to drop 55 kilos in 18 months – a feat she said took a lot of hard work.

She was doing cardio and weight-based training interchangeably every day and eating lots of healthy fats, lean meats and veggies.

‘Chris [my trainer] was perfectly matched to me. I worked alongside him for four years. He was actually the one to encourage me to buy Vision Personal Training Studio in Wahroonga,’ she said.

Sarah purchased the facility which is now ‘such a huge part of her life’ and works alongside her 22-year-old son Alexander (pictured) – who counts his incredible mum as the reason for wanting to get into the PT business himself

She does some element of cardio for 45 minutes a day as a ‘bare minimum’ and trains weights three times a week

Sarah purchased the facility which is now ‘such a huge part of her life’ and works alongside her 22-year-old son Alexander – who counts his incredible mum as the reason for wanting to get into the PT business himself.

‘I tend to do my own thing in the gym today although I’m surrounded by trainers so I’ll usually do one session with them here and there,’ she explained.

She does some element of cardio for 45 minutes a day as a ‘bare minimum’ and trains weights three times a week.

‘We don’t count calories at Vision, we track macros, which makes it easier to manage on a daily basis,’ the 49-year-old said (pictured with her family)

‘My daughter Chantal (pictured) had to literally hold my hand and help me sign up. I don’t think I would have walked in there without her,’ she said

‘We don’t count calories at Vision, we track macros, which makes it easier to manage on a daily basis,’ the 49-year-old said.

‘I eat five meals a day, much lower carbs in the evening than I do in the morning, lean proteins and vegetables. I’m super careful with carbohydrates but I’ll still eat yoghurt and berries as an afternoon snack and an apple in the morning. 

‘In between that I’ll have a chicken and salad low-carb wrap. I tend to eat the same kinds of things every day.’ 

Sarah admitted she still has 20 kilos to lose until she reaches her goal weight but said ‘once you make losing weight a second priority it just doesn’t drop off as easily’

But she hopes her story encourages others to alter their lifestyles and commit to better health

Sarah admitted she still has 20 kilos to lose until she reaches her goal weight but said ‘once you make losing weight a second priority it just doesn’t drop off as easily.’

But she hopes her story encourages others to alter their lifestyles and commit to better health.

‘Even if I can get one more person to change their life this will be worth it,’ she said.