Diabetic Living Australia - July-August 2018

but my weight kept fluctuating.

I got down to about 90kg, but

then I ended up back at 100kg.

What I still didn’t realise was that

I was still eating too much.

What was the key to

keeping the weight off?

I’ve realised that you don’t just

lose weight, and that’s it; you have

to change your diet and exercise

to be something you can continue

for the rest of your life.

So, I started walking to

work and back. It’s about

2.5km each way, and

then there’s extra

incidental exercise that

I get through moving

around at work. I can get

10,000 steps in before

morning tea! I really

enjoy being in the fresh

air. It’s a good way to

start and end the day.

About two years ago,

Weight Watchers also

got me into the right

headspace for cutting portion

sizes, particularly with bread and

pasta. A friend came to weigh-ins,

which really helped – I needed

that accountability.

I got down to 82kg and enjoyed

being smaller, so that has helped

motivate me not to put the

weight back on. Slowly I reached

my current weight of 75kg, which

is still a couple of kilos above my

goal. But, I’ve lost nearly 30kg

and I’ve kept that weight off, so

I’m very happy with that effort.

I think part of my success this

time around is that I’ve done it

for me, not for anyone else.

What do your daily

meals look like now?

In the past, when I had rice with

a curry, I probably

would have a few cups

of white rice, but now

I’ll only have half a cup

of brown rice. I also

limit bread to two slices

of multigrain every

second or third day.

During summer

I take salads for lunch,

with some low-fat feta

cheese and skinless

chicken, or a little tin

of tuna. In winter I take

soups, which I make

with vegies, some

stock and a bit of red or green

curry paste. I make them in bulk

and stick them in the freezer.

I adapt standard recipes, so if

I’m making an apple crumble

I wouldn’t put any sugar into the

apple and I’d put less into the

crumble. I’d probably add more

oats, too, for fibre.

I also cook things like rissoles in

the oven now, just on baking

paper with a spray of oil.

I make sure I cook myself a hot

breakfast with bacon, egg, tomato

and a slice of toast each weekend.

I still have the occasional piece of

cake or muffin. You’ve got to live

and enjoy life. If you’re going to

have chocolate, go for quality!

What impact has this
whole process had on how
you feel about yourself?
I think women tend to look at
themselves and find faults before
we find something good. I still
have a bit of a tummy, which is
just my body shape, and I’m still
learning not to see myself as a fat
person. But I think that’s fairly
normal – I’ve spoken to a lot of
other people who feel that way.
I’m still taking Metformin for
my diabetes, but I feel fortunate
that I haven’t had the health
struggles that some people with
diabetes go through. I’m careful
to do all the check-ups, so that if
there is a problem I can get onto
it straight away.
A few years ago, I would never
have talked about my weight with
anyone. Maybe it’s an age thing,
but I’m now happy within myself
and happy with what I’ve
WORDS achieved. Life is good. ■

HEATHER WISEMAN

PHOTOGRAPHY

SUPPLIED BY MICHELLE

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

GETTY IMAGES

Maybe

it’s an age

thing, but

I’m now

happy

within

myself

ABOVE: Michelle in May 2017.

FAR RIGHT: Michelle with her

sister Sharen Haynes and niece

Kaitlyn Haynes in May 2017. BEFORE, 

011

diabetic living JULY/AUGUST 2018 123

my story: type 2