Mackenzie can finally take family pictures and feel confident!
Weight Loss: 49kg
Tell us a bit about you and what life was like before you joined Jenny Craig:
I was very into sports growing up. I played soccer, softball and basketball. But once I started my first sitting job and got pregnant with my son, that’s when I started having issues with my weight.
I’ve always struggled with emotional eating and overeating; however, we were also in the process of buying a house, planning a wedding and having a baby. I was always eating fast food, whatever I could order out — just so it could take some stress off me.
In October of 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, my son got extremely sick and needed two emergency brain surgeries. It took an even more emotional toll than I was already caught up in.
When things started to calm down, I came to a place where I thought, ‘I can’t continue to keep living this way because that may be my son watching me in a hospital bed.’
It wasn’t until I reached out to a friend and we were talking about my son’s recovery and the struggles I was having with my weight that I considered a weight loss plan.
I was feeling like I wasn’t the best Mum — I couldn’t run around with him, I couldn’t pick him up, I was always winded and exhausted.
That’s when my college roommate said, “look into Jenny Craig.”
Tell us about your Jenny Craig Coach
I feel like my coach gets me. Having her has 120% made me so much better than I was before!
When I started Rapid Results Max Up, I began talking to my coach Michelle over the phone once a week. I really love her. I feel like I’ve known her for a while. We’ve established a friendship and mutual trust and respect. She’s just the sweetest person.
I’m an emotional eater, so there are times when I talk to her about having a hard day at work and situations that used to lead me to binge and overeat. I’ve had to be vulnerable with her. I feel like I can tell her pretty much anything and she’s very understanding — and that has led me to be so successful.
Her favourite quote to say is, “A reward is not something that will take you one step further from your goal.” That is something that has resonated with me throughout the journey.
What about the food?
The most convenient part of Jenny is 100% the meal prep being done for me.
With the prep out of the way, I know I will stay on track. I also really like the convenience of the delivery and local pick up — I use both options.
When I first started, I was nervous about the portion sizes of the food. The biggest diet myth I believed was that I would starve. The first day on Jenny took some adjusting because I was overeating before, but now I’m so full and satisfied. Totally more than enough food. Now I’m stuffed after each meal! I was actually really surprised by the food. Don’t get me started on the desserts!
Do you have any highlights from your journey?
I suffered from extreme heartburn and insomnia before I started intermittent fasting on Max Up. When I started doing intermittent fasting, within less than a week, I noticed a difference in my sleep and my heartburn.
I used to take an antacid once a day, I don’t have to take them anymore. I used to toss and turn, but now I don’t wake up every hour.
My Recharge Bars are something that my body craves at exactly the same time every day. I’m always eating the Recharge Bar within an hour of waking up – that holds me over until my fast is complete and its breakfast time!
How do you feel now?
I started out by doing 30 minutes a day of walking, I’ve worked up to seven to eight kms. I haven’t been able to hike with my grandfather in years! I did join a gym so now I’m running. I’m a runner now which blows me away!
I can finally fit back into my old clothes and actually, some of them are too big. Now, I’m a US size 8 which I couldn’t be more proud of. I’m able to shop online now. I couldn’t do that before.
I’m really excited to go on rides and run around with my son. Two summers ago, I couldn’t fit on the rides with him. It was kind of embarrassing.
Now I can be more hands-on with his life and have the energy to keep up with him. I can finally take family pictures and feel confident and not upset about it! I hold my head high now. I feel a lot better. I smile a lot more.
Before I was so unhappy with who I was, it came out in every aspect of my life.
Now I’m getting back that happiness and it’s just radiating at this point.
If I could give myself some advice before starting this journey, I would tell myself to be kind and not be so hard on yourself. And love your body and all the different stages you will go through.
I’m looking forward to being a great Mum to my son. Being present, active and hands-on. I want to be that Mum that’s at the activities and sporting events.
I’m looking forward to my 30’s. I want to be happy, healthy and present!
