It took a health scare for Karen Diamond to realise the time was right to ditch her four litre a day Coke and one loaf of bread a day habit and shed some weight.
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Karen’s weight had ballooned to a staggering 160kg, she was diabetic, had high blood pressure and a low functioning kidney.
Reality hit hard and fast; if she didn’t change her unhealthy lifestyle medication and dialysis were her only options.
“I was scared,” the aged care nurse said.
Five years later, the Forster mum has turned her life around, shedding 90kg, dropping nine dress sizes, ditching most of her medication and ‘curing’ her diabetes.
And, Karen has done it the old fashioned, healthy way through sensible eating and exercise.
But, as most people would appreciate Karen’s journey hasn’t been easy.
The quintessential ‘fat’ kid and an aversion to sports, Karen found walking into and joining a gym confronting.
She began with small steps, firstly on a treadmill during the days when nobody was there.
As her weight began to drop and her confidence grew Karen started doing classes and challenges regularly – with support from her Sweatshed gym-mates.
In fact, she is a bit of a champion at challenges; she has completed five, six week challenges and won two.
At the same time the confessed emotional and binge eater has swapped her diet of fish and chips, bread, hamburgers, pizza and Coke for five high protein, low carb, low sugar and low fat meals a day.
“This is not a diet; it is a healthy way of living,” Karen said.
Before embarking on this journey Karen said she had tried almost every diet from the popular Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers to cabbage diets and starvation.
“But, they never worked,” she said.
“The reason it's worked this time is I know I can eat as much as I want as long as it’s all healthy food and within the allowed quantities.”
Karen said she had been inspired and helped along the way by many women, and now it was her turn to return the favour.
She has been invited to speak in Taree later this month with fellow Aboriginal women, and is keen to complete a certificate three in fitness.
“I want to help all larger women.”
In the meantime, Karen is encouraging her teenage son to take care of his diet and fitness, while husband John has joined the gym bandwagon – trying to build up.
Jeanene Duncan
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
