No more excuses

Heather Brumage lost 20kg by making a long-term commitment to healthy habits

HEATHER BRUMAGE

Age 39 Cape Town Height 1.57 Weight lost: 20kg (from size 38 to 32)

Five years ago, I came face to face with what I really looked like. I was on a business trip and was staying in a hotel room with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and very bright lights in the bathroom. I was about to hop into the shower when I saw myself in the mirror and was shocked to the core. I hadn’t exercised since the birth of my son four years earlier and had been eating incorrectly too. At the age of 34, I was wearing a size 38 and carrying a lot of extra weight.

I could hide under clothing, but I could not hide from myself and I decided to quit making excuses and do something about it. If I wanted to be a butterfly I had to give up being the worm. And so my transformation began. I had a choice to live my life the way I was, or to change it radically for the better. I chose the latter. Right then and there I hit the floor and did 100 sit-ups.

Being overweight had made shopping for clothes a nightmare and I would always hide my big arms with long sleeves — even in summer. My confidence was low and I certainly never felt attractive. When I went out with my girlfriends, I was always the fat one. But I was determined to put an end to that.

I followed a weight-loss plan that placed a strong emphasis on eating small, balanced meals every three hours to keep my metabolism revved, and I trained six times a week doing both cardiovascular exercises and weight training. This was definitely not a quick fix — it took me 11 months to lose 20kg — but I’ve kept the weight off for five years now. I still love to exercise and I run, cycle and do weights weekly. I’ve also recently started mountain biking, which is fantastic for my body and soul.

Since losing the weight and trimming down to a size 32, my life has changed significantly. I enjoy wearing fashionable clothing and am fitter and stronger than I’ve ever been. I love going to the beach and wearing my bikini, and my son now has an active mom who can do just about anything with him.

The most rewarding moment was when I went into a clothing boutique and found a pair of trousers I liked, only to hear the assistant say “Sorry, I’ll have to check at the back to see if we have your size.” I expected her to come back and say there were no larger sizes, but instead she said “Here you go, I managed to find you a small.” I was ecstatic!

The best advice I can offer anyone who wants to lose weight is to stick with your goal, no matter what. Yes, there will be tough times and obstacles, but if you really want to lose weight, don’t give up.

Motivational Tips:

▶ Every day, visualise what you want to look like. I cut out pictures and stuck them on my fridge.
▶ Find ways to make healthy eating and exercise part of your life in the long term.
▶ Don’t compare yourself to other women. Just be the best that you can be.

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