‘I COULDN’T HAVE KIDS’
Erin Azzopardi, 29, Leongatha, Vic
Since she was a little girl, Erin Azzopardi wanted nothing more than to become a mum. But at 170kg, Erin was so dangerously obese, that her dream of cradling a newborn in her arms was impossible.
Not only that but doctors said if she didn’t lose weight she’d not live to see her 30th birthday.
Faced with a grim prognosis Erin had only one choice – to lose weight and fast!
Now, after having lifesaving lap band surgery four years ago, Erin has lost an enormous 81kg.
She’s thrown away all of her size 28 clothes to fill a wardrobe of size 14 outfits to complement her new 89kg figure. More importantly, her dreams of becoming a mum have come true.
Erin, who’s overjoyed to have eight-month-old Oliver in her life, says her food addiction stemmed from childhood, when she would secretly gorge on sweet treats until she was ready to pop. “By high school I was over 100kg,” she adds.
When Erin was told she had just years to live, her daily bingefest consisted of Macca’s for breakfast, Hungry Jack’s for lunch and a chicken schnitzel with chips for dinner, not to mention sausage rolls, lollies and chocolates in between!
“I’ll never forget that horrible feeling of being told not only would I never be a mother but I’d be dead before I was 30,” says Erin.
Without a moment to lose, she opted for lap-band surgery and lost 40kg in the first six months.
“I’m so active now and my diet has completely changed,” says Erin, who exercises six times a week. She’s ditched the junk food for fruit and nut snacks and low-carb meals.
“Now I can plan my 30th birthday without fearing I won’t be here to see my little boy grow up,” she says triumphantly.
Lorah Chetcuti has struggled with a fluctuating frame since age 12. Her battle with the bulge spiralled so out of control that when her big 4-0 arrived, she weighed an unhealthy 120kg.
On the milestone birthday, Lorah was all smiles on the outside as she celebrated on a dinner cruise with her husband Arnold and friends, but inside she’d never been so miserable.
“They say life begins at 40 and I was determined not to spend it overweight. I wanted to live life to the fullest,” Lorah admits.
She had always had an insatiable sweet tooth, and when, at the age of 30, she fell pregnant with her first child, Jacob, those cravings increased tenfold.
With her weight at an all-time high of 135kg, and self-esteem at an all-time low, Lorah had gastric bypass surgery. “I lost 60kg in less than two years,” she says.
But her new 75kg figure didn’t last for long – and when she fell pregnant again, she ballooned to 100kg. Juggling her new baby boy, Joshua, and toddler Jacob, plus running her bottled water business, Lorah’s weight took a back seat.
“My appetite had no limits – I kept eating and never felt full,” the mother-of-two confesses.
But the horrifying realisation of how big she’d become didn’t hit until she turned 40.
The day after her birthday she sprang into action, signing up with a personal trainer at her local Vision Personal Training gym. She started exercising three times a week, binned all her dessert downfalls and filled her fridge and cupboards with lean meats, vegies and fresh fruit. She also followed a strict rule of no carbs after 2pm.
As the kilos continued to drop off, Lorah’s fitness levels soared, as did her confidence. Now weighing 70kg, she’s shed a whopping 55kg – nearly half her body weight – and dropped six dress sizes to a size 10.
“Life really does begin at 40,” Lorah says with a smile. “I may have got off to a slow start but t I I’ll ll never look back.” back.