Mom on how depression caused her to gain weight and how she turned it around
Jessica Lewis has opened up about the challenges she faced while she suffered with depression and how she overcame them.
Amazingly, the mom-of-three was able to turn it around and lost 35lbs after signing up to the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.
“Every day I ate about a block of chocolate between breakfast and dinner and then ate dinner,” she admits.
“I was feeding my emotions and exhaustion with sugar and not much else.”
After the birth of her third child, Jessica reveals she realised she was struggling to cope.
“My gorgeous son had colic from two weeks old until the day he turned four months old. He would scream between 17-20 hours of everyday and only sleep for short spurts where he had to be held upright for, which meant I would end up on the lounge attempting to sleep upright every single night,” she admits.
“I wasn’t coping. I was feeding my emotions and exhaustion and was beyond exhausted so searched for sugar as a saviour which naturally this helped me gain 5 kgs in those 3 months post having my son.
“Additionally, I wasn’t able to do much movement due to issues from giving birth, which I don’t think that was a help either to my physical or mental health.”
How joining The Healthy Mommy helped Jessica beat her postnatal depression
After meeting her child health nurse, this gorgeous mum realised she was going down the path of postnatal depression and the next day joined The Healthy Mommy.
“I have never looked back. I have consistently followed the meal plans for the past four months,” she says.
“For the first time in my life, I have lost weight whilst breastfeeding. My first goals were to just remove chocolate reliance and eat well.
“Then to start walking. I increased my goals to walk 10,000 steps per day and drank two litres of water every day.”
What a typical day looks like for Jessica
Breakfast: Smoothie
Morning tea: Pear
Lunch: Leftovers from the night before or a toastie or sandwich
Afternoon tea: Healthy Mommy snack
Dinner: Healthy Mommy meal
“My top favourite meal is the Country Chicken Pie, which I make into mini sausage rolls and freeze for snacks!
“Sticky Chicken Fried Rice is also another favourite! I also love the Chocolate Flourless Cake, that’s the chocoholic in me coming out. I also freeze it and have it as I want.”
‘This was the first thing I had done for myself in a very long time’
Jessica knew she needed to do this, as it was important that she felt better in order to look after her family.
“This was the first thing I had done for myself in a very long time and I did it because I knew that I needed to take control and if my bucket was empty, I couldn’t support the rest of my family or give my son the care he needed at the time,” she says.
“I feel great, and whilst I am still on the journey to being the best version of me both physically and mentally, I feel in control now thanks to The Healthy Mommy.”
Three tips for success
- Don’t give up!
- Involve everyone!
- Meal prep!
“Take a chance and just do it, but do it for you first and your family second and listen to your body along the way, as there will be days you need to just rest,” adds Jessica.
“The Healthy Mommy isn’t a fad diet, it’s a lifestyle change so make it work for you as there is no right or wrong way but if you don’t take a chance, you will never be where you want to be because nothing will change.
“One thing I have always told myself is ‘you can’t change what you don’t change’.”
Join the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge for LOTS of great workouts
These are just a few of our great workouts:
- Lower Body Workout from Super Fitness Trainer
- Pram workout!
- Lower Body and Arms Workout with Nathalia!
- Fat burner workouts
- Tabata workouts
- 5 workouts you can do in just 5 minutes!
Join the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge for more great workouts.
