An Aussie mum has shed 46kg in just 11 months after a doctor warned her she had a 20 per cent chance of making it to 60.
Jess Fleay, 30, from Perth, tipped the scale at 113kg and binged on a diet of chocolate, lollies and chips when she was given the ominous warning in January 2021.
She quickly decided to change her lifestyle for the sake of her two young children making ‘incremental changes’ everyday to improve her health.
Jess Fleay, 30, from Perth tipped the scale at 113kgs and binged on a diet of chocolate, lollies, chips when she was given the ominous warning in January 2021. She quickly decided to change her lifestyle for the sake of her two young children and now weighs just 67kg
By Christmas, she’d slimmed down to 67kg and has kept up her healthy lifestyle after swapping out sweet treats for healthy museli and yoghurt and signing up to a celebrity personal trainer. Left before, right now
The mum also had a gastric sleeve operation and found one-to-one personal coach Michael Italiano, who also happens to be F1 driver Daniel Riccardio’s performance coach. Her progress is pictured
By Christmas, she’d slimmed down to 67kg and has kept up her healthy lifestyle after swapping out sweet treats for museli and yoghurt and signing up to a celebrity personal trainer.
The mum also had a gastric sleeve operation and found one-to-one personal coach Michael Italiano, who also happens to be F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo’s performance coach.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Jess revealed that other personal trainers had judged her for having surgery, but Michael instead helped her to develop a training plan tailored to her needs by doing a two-minute online quiz.
‘I hated my weight for basically my entire adult life, and I would say some of my teen years too,’ she said.
Jess revealed that other personal trainers had judged her for having surgery, but Michael instead helped her to develop a training plan tailored to her needs by doing a two minute online quiz
Before her surgery, Jess struggled with her weight for most of her life, failing to stick to multiple diets and gym memberships due to issues with self-doubt and confidence, giving up after one bad day or slip
‘I had very low self-confidence and would almost use my weight as an excuse to not do things.
‘It became something I hated but also something that was a safety net for me.
‘It manifested into me trying fad diets, hating myself, not caring about my body or treating it right.
Knowledge: Jess added that she has a a ‘better understanding now’ of what she should and shouldn’t be eating
Jess said losing weight this time was different, because she was in the right mindset
Before her surgery, Jess struggled with her weight for most of her life, failing to stick to multiple diets and gym memberships due to issues with self-doubt and confidence, giving up after one bad day or slip.
Jess said losing weight this time was different, because she was in the right mindset.
‘For me it’s the hardest part of losing weight is the mental side of things, I self-doubt a lot and would try diets, join gyms etc, have a bad day or a couple of bad days and then just give up as I felt like I had ruined it so why continue,’ she said.
‘I believed I couldn’t change and so I always set myself up to fail.
‘I never thought I could, so I never went in with the right mind set.
Jess has also upped her exercise, while she’s always been sporty and played netball and tennis she ‘never walked’ anywhere or went to the gym before. Her progress is pictured
Jess, pictured, before and after her weight loss, said she is much happier now. ‘I feel strong, I feel healthy’ she said
‘Michael provided me with all the tools I needed, held me accountable, would check in regularly with me.
‘I wanted to succeed, and Michael knew most of if not all my weaknesses or reasons I would use and so he gently reminds me or encourages me when needed.’
Before her surgery, Jess struggled with her weight for most of her life, failing to stick to multiple diets and gym memberships due to issues with self-doubt and confidence, giving up after one bad day or slip.
Jess revealed that other personal trainers had judged her for having surgery, but Michael Italiano (pictured) instead helped her develop a training plan tailored to her needs by doing a two minute online quiz
Jess added that she has a a ‘better understanding now’ of what she should and shouldn’t be eating thanks to Michael’s help
‘Eating wise, I actually ate a wide range of foods but they were never the best for me.
‘I have reduced the sugar I order in my coffee as well as the amount of coffee I drink.
‘I make sure I am always eating dinner and not just skipping for cereal and toast, having the prepped meals has made it easier for me to ensure I am fuelling my body with the correct foods’.
Jess added that she has a a ‘better understanding now’ of what she should and shouldn’t be eating.
She’s also upped her exercise, while she’s always been sporty and played netball and tennis she ‘never walked’ anywhere or went to the gym before.
‘I figured I was still moving by playing those sports, in reality it wasn’t enough. Now I workout four times a week with Michael and its usually two sessions a day, we split my sessions in half to make them feel more manageable and I complete the first half when I wake up and then the second half when I get home,’ she said.
‘I still play netball and tennis but I now also try to get out and walk on the days I am not working out.
‘It’s been a bit of a mental battle for myself to realise I didn’t cheat by getting surgery, it’s just a tool to kickstart my change in habits and it’s a tool that has saved my life. I am a lot more confident now in knowing what to do and how to do it when it comes to working out and making sure I am eating correctly.
‘I have a different lifestyle to most due to the surgery in terms of the amount I can eat, how much I can drink, how it effects my energy levels etc, so having Michael to guide me through this in a healthy way has been helpful.
‘Michael just made me feel comfortable from the get-go and never once judged me for having the surgery compared to other personal trainers I approached. That’s a huge thing with this journey, being judged for being overweight and being judged for having the surgery.
‘One thing that now I am really working on is how I feel about myself, self-reflection and realising my triggers so when they pop up I know I can handle them. I think for me it’s now a matter of getting to know myself again, this new me, the me who cares about herself and wants to actually look after herself, which is empowering.
‘I am so much happier, I feel strong, I feel healthy, I feel like this is who I was always meant to be. The mental side is definitely a work in progress and something I’m focusing more on. My advice is to always remember your journey is your own, and to remind yourself of why you decided to start when times get tough.’
Michael Italiano is Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 Performance Coach and the owner of MI Coaching, a world class training platform designed for everyone
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