I lost 46 kilograms and dropped to a size eight after realising one mistake that almost everyone makes

A mother-of-four has told how she lost 46kg and several dress sizes after tipping the scales at 109kg.

Cassie Krawczyk, 34, first knew she needed to make a change when her weight skyrocketed after having her second baby in 2015.

Always struggling with her health, Cassie transformed her diet and exercise routine; the simple tweaks helped her lose fat and build strength, despite a hectic household and a tight budget.

Initially, Cassie lost 20kg ‘very quickly’, but it took her another two years (with a baby in between) before she lost the rest. She said that ‘focusing on the scale’ is the biggest mistake people make and believes nothing can stand in the way of your success anymore.

Cassie’s secret was the global weight loss community, The healthy momwhere she started exercising at home via an app and followed a new diet filled with whole foods, lots of snacks and DIY smoothies.

What she’s learned has helped her stay confident, healthy and energetic enough to keep up with her little ones and reduce her once-high risk of type 2 diabetes.

To stay fit, Cassie, who works in the health sector in Victoria, starts her day with coffee and toast before enjoying peanut butter and carrot sticks or some boiled eggs mid-morning.

She then makes a salad according to a recipe from her app, after which she starts a delicious yet ‘perfectly balanced’ dinner.

‘Dinner is my favorite. Because we have four children, there is always at least one who is not happy with the meals we cook, so we make a lot of meals that can meet everyone’s individual needs,” Cassie told FEMAIL.

‘For example, we are going to make porcupine meatballs and I eat it with vegetables and the kids eat it with pasta.’

Cassie warns everyone against “focusing on the scale” if they want to see results

They then prepare a ‘chocolate dessert’ – usually a healthy Weet-Bix slice or mint bubble crunch bar.

“The chocoholic in me can’t resist,” Cassie said.

The determined mom trains five times a week: three days in the gym with cardio and weights and two days at home via streamed routines.

“I love the app’s Dance Strong workouts and yoga – I can do them anytime, anywhere,” she said. “This means I can squeeze these out between my youngest child’s naps or as soon as my kids all go to bed.”

Cassie, who works in the health sector in Victoria, enjoys carrot sticks or a few boiled eggs mid-morning and often cooks healthy porcupine meatballs for dinner

Cassie warns everyone against “focusing on the scale” if they want to see results.

‘It’s my biggest mistake in losing weight. When I started, I was consuming too few calories because I thought a 1,200 calorie plan would be the only way to lose weight,” she said.

“My top tip for success is to have a reason (for losing weight) that goes beyond yourself — a reason that will keep you going no matter what.” Mine were my children. I will do anything for them. So when I felt like giving up, I reminded myself that it was all for them.”

Cassie is currently working on getting her body – and her self-confidence – back on track after giving birth to her fourth baby just over a year ago.

In October, her doctor told her she was at high risk of developing diabetes and would likely need medication for the rest of her life if she didn’t reprioritize her health.

“My top tip for success is to have a reason (for losing weight) that goes beyond yourself — a reason that will keep you going no matter what.” Mine were my children,” she said

She knew the consequences if she didn’t start, so she boosted her motivation and lost 8 pounds that month, starting her health journey all over again.

‘Let me tell you. It wasn’t an easy run this time. But the benefits really outweigh the actual weight loss itself. “I have extra energy, better mental health and much more self-confidence, to name a few,” she said.

‘I remain determined and still use the smoothies and recipes every day. Although I’m not back where I want to be yet, I’m working on it.

‘I still have seven kilos to lose, but there is no rush to get there. These things take time and while it can be frustrating at times, it is completely normal.”

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Recipe: How to make a healthy Mint Choc Bubble Crunch?

Ingredients

100 g dark chocolate

2 tablespoons coconut oil

2 tablespoons rice malt syrup

1 teaspoon mint essence

2 1/2 cups puffed rice

1/3 cup dried coconut

Method

1. Melt the chocolate according to your preferred method and set aside

2. Heat the rice malt syrup and coconut oil over low heat until soft and add to the chocolate. Mix well to combine

3. Add mint essence and stir well to combine

4. Add rice bubbles and coconut to a large bowl and mix together

5. Add the chocolate mixture to the rice bubble mixture and stir quickly to combine well

6. Press it into the loaf pan and press very firmly – so firmly that you slightly crush the rice bubbles. This ensures that it sticks together and doesn’t crumble when you cut it into pieces

7. Place in the fridge or freezer to set, cut into 14 pieces and enjoy. They can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer

Servings: 14

Calories per serving: 76