Aussie mum Shayna Fernando who lost her sister and almost died before dropping a staggering 85kg
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Hearing the words ‘you should be dead’ from the doctors, Shayna Fernando knew she needed to make a change, and fast.
The high school teacher-turned-graphic designer had struggled with her weight “for as long as she can remember”, weighing in at 63kg when she was just nine years old.
“My whole family was overweight and looking back, what I thought was a ‘normal’ diet was not normal,” Shayna, 34, from Queensland, told FEMAIL.
Although she had lost 50kg eight years ago, she regained it again and more after her younger sister, Jemma, tragically died by suicide at the age of 20.
Shayna Fernando struggled with weight her entire life and tipped the scales at 150kg in 2019. The turning point was when she was 38 weeks pregnant with her second child and doctors found a blood clot extending from her ankle to her knee. belly button. The doctors told her that she should have died (pictured today)
Although she had lost 50kg eight years ago, she regained it again and more after her younger sister Jemma committed suicide at age 20 (pictured before losing weight)
At her heaviest, Shayna weighed 150kg and managed to lose 50kg following a 12-week program from trainer Michelle Bridges. But when she heard the devastating news about her sister, she quickly regained the weight.
“My sister and I were always together,” Shayna said. Pictured: Shayna and her sister Jemma
“My sister and I were always together, and I knew she was struggling mentally, but it came as a complete shock when I got a phone call from the hospital saying she had taken her own life,” Shayna said.
‘From then on everything changed; I kept busy and didn’t stop working until six months later, when it all hit me.’
During difficult times, Shayna had the support of her husband, Andy, but she turned to food for comfort and felt ‘broken with grief’.
Although she wanted to lose weight for her wedding, she struggled to function every day and was ultimately unable to teach.
“I ended up in the hospital for my own mental health for two weeks, and it was really hard to know what my sister was struggling with,” she said.
After learning that her sister had passed away, Shayna turned to food for comfort. “I ended up in the hospital for my own mental health for two weeks, and it was really hard to know what my sister was struggling with,” she said.
Since then, Shayna made a commitment to change her life, so she quit her job and went into graphic design, which started the healing process.
In 2017, she and Andy had their first child, Oliver, now five, followed by daughter Luna, now four, in 2019.
But during the second pregnancy at 38 weeks, Shayna had a life-threatening health problem that she never saw coming.
“My leg was hurting and I only went to the doctor because I thought it would affect my labor,” Shayna said.
But what she thought was a minor injury turned out to be a blood clot in her leg that extended from her ankle to her belly button.
This meant that 40 percent of his lungs were filled with pulmonary emboli that blocked airflow.
‘Andy took me to hospital which confirmed it was a blood clot and then I was airlifted to Mater Hospital in Brisbane. The blood clot was determined to have moved through my lungs, liver and legs,” he said.
“You’re lucky to be alive,” a doctor told her, adding that the clot was likely a result of her weight.
Shayna said she didn’t experience any other symptoms, but likely attributed common telltale signs, such as shortness of breath, to being pregnant and being overweight.
Their adorable baby boy was delivered safely and naturally at 39 weeks without any complications.
It was a particularly harrowing time for Shayna, who had watched her mother suffer a heart attack from a blood clot at age 25. She survived the ordeal.
In 2017, she and Andy had their first son Oliver, now five, followed by daughter Luna, now four, in 2019. But during the second pregnancy at 38 weeks, Shayna had a terrifying experience that jeopardized her life: Doctors found a blood clot in her leg and she was airlifted to Brisbane hospital (pictured: in the helicopter)
“I was terrified of the fact that I almost died, it really hit me hard, so I started dieting and I knew I could lose weight because I’ve done it before,” Shayna said.
“I was terrified of the fact that I almost died, it really hit me hard, so I started dieting and I knew I could lose weight because I’ve done it before,” Shayna said.
Having never set foot in a gym before, she steeled herself to visit Fernwood Fitness one day while Andy waited in the car.
“I have phone trauma anxiety after my sister passed away, so I couldn’t call them to ask about membership prices,” she said.
“I wore my brightest yellow dress and the staff were really lovely. I signed up that day but unfortunately the gym closed a week later due to Covid.”
“But I was so glad I signed up because it gave me something to look forward to.”
Beforehand, his diet consisted of eating leftover spaghetti bolognese for breakfast, two sandwiches for lunch, and “lots of rice and pasta” for dinner.
Shayna signed up for Fernwood Fitness in 2020, but unfortunately the gym closed the following week due to Covid. But this did not stop him from exercising at home. She lost 8 kg in that time.
Due to her weight, Shayna was limited to walking alone at first and lost 8kg while the gym was closed. She also completed the 12-week Michelle Bridges program again. She also got the family involved and with the kids they all did exercises in the backyard.
“I couldn’t see anyone online who had achieved what I set out to do, it’s like I wanted proof, but knowing that I had lost weight before was enough of a boost to get me through it,” she said.
Due to her weight, Shayna was limited to walking alone at first and lost 8kg while the gym was closed. She also completed the 12-week Michelle Bridges program again and got the family involved in exercising in the backyard.
When the gym finally opened, she had the confidence to go in and do personal training sessions, which taught her how to do different exercises.
Slowly but surely, Shayna managed to lose 85kg and now weighs 68kg.
She did personal training three times a week, as well as cardio and fitness classes, and maintains a well-balanced diet.
“I feel like a completely different person now: I don’t exercise to lose weight anymore, I do it because I want to, it makes me feel good, and it’s great for my mental health,” she said.
His fitness and health have improved so much that he has participated in back-to-back fitness challenges for the past 18 months.
Shayna is also looking to complete a Certificate 3 in fitness.
Slowly but surely, Shayna managed to lose a staggering 85kg and now weighs 68kg (pictured today)
Not only has she transformed her own life, with her new knowledge of diet and fitness, but she is also able to feed her family nutritious meals. Little Oliver, who has avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (AFRID), a fear of food, and needs a feeding tube, Shayna can help with his nutritional needs (pictured with her son , Oliver)
Not only has she transformed her own life, with her new knowledge of diet and fitness, but she is also able to feed her family nutritious meals.
Little Oliver, who has avoidant/restrictive eating disorder (AFRID), a fear of food, needs a feeding tube. Shayna can help you with his nutritional needs.
“I started out wanting to lose weight, now I never anticipated that it could help my family and others,” Shayna said.