Stressed, tired and fed-up with feeling frumpy, Chrissy Pantlin decided to focus on herself at last. It took just a few short months to transform her health and her looks, and she’s now proud of her new size 12 figure.
Stress and injury
Things began to come unstuck for Chrissy last year. The business she and her husband Adam owned began to fail and a back injury left her unable to exercise. She had also been having abdominal pains and her doctor suggested an elimination diet; Chrissy soon discovered that she was gluten-intolerant.
“I began to indulge myself with gluten-free baking and I was eating too much sugar and too many takeaways washed down with seven or more cans of cola each day. My eating was out of control and not being able to walk because of the prolapsed disc in my back just added to my weight woes.
Chrissy says she was just “sick of being sick, feeling stressed” and “looking and feeling frumpy.” She knew that losing weight would help and finally decided to make some big changes.
With Adam interstate for several months on a work project, Chrissy took the opportunity to change her life. “I realised that it had just been too easy to make excuses about my weight so I decided to use the three months that Adam would be away to focus on getting myself on track.”
Chrissy initially overhauled her diet and lost weight by ditching all the cakes, pastries, pasta and doughnuts. That was her first step. She shed 11kg and then decided she needed a little more motivation and background on the science of weight-loss, to keep her going. Her next step was to join The Biggest Loser Club so she could learn about nutrition.
Nutrition know-how
Things really started to come together for Chrissy as she used The Club program. “The Club taught me the basics about diet and nutrition. I used the diary constantly and it really kept me on track. It also taught me about how many calories I should be consuming.”
Chrissy really enjoyed getting involved on the forums too and relished The Club recipes. Now, a typical day for Chrissy tends to start with berries and oats, followed by leftover Chilli Beef and Beans with some potato for lunch, and perhaps some Parmesan Chicken or a steak with vegetables and rice or pasta for dinner.
Chrissy says, “I don’t drink the colas anymore either; I have water instead plus a glass of sugar-free cordial. Snacks are either fruit or nuts or a mini cheese portion.”
Chrissy found that exercise became easier as her weight came down and now she finds time for exercise about five days per week. “I like things like Body Jam and I try to do weight-training, too. Plus, mowing the lawns and doing the gardening since Adam has been away has kept me active, too.”
Click to enlarge photos
Chrissy before
Feeling frumpy
Chrissy after
Proud of herself
Routines rock
Chrissy knows how hard it can be to make a total life change so she’s relieved that her new lifestyle has been relatively easy to adapt to. Sticking to a routine has really helped her maintain her focus and being organised is also an important factor in her success. She cooks much more often now and each Sunday night she prepares snacks for the week ahead.
“As well as my regular snacks, I carry a lollipop in my handbag for the occasional times when a sweet emergency hits. The days of eating half a family-sized block of chocolate during an evening are gone now. Because I am eating better, I feel better, I have more energy and I don’t crave sweets anymore.”
Fashion fan
Losing 5.6kg with The Club – she now weighs 75.4kg – has made a massive difference to Chrissy. She now has the courage to wear more fitted fashions, including a figure-hugging dress that Adam picked out for her.
“I am amazed to say that I am nearly into a size 12 – I have never been this light before. I have lost 5cm from my hips and 5cm from my waist. I am just sorry that I didn’t start to measure myself right from the start when I was at my heaviest and wearing size 18 clothes,” says Chrissy.
The last time Chrissy’s physiotherapist saw her for her back troubles, she said: “Wow! How did you lose the weight?” Chrissy enthusiastically told her and anyone else who asks about her secret weight-loss weapon, The Biggest Loser Club.
Adam has not seen Chrissy in person yet but he has seen her new photo on The Club website – she is wearing the dress Adam encouraged her to buy and he’s very proud of what she has achieved. Chrissy says, “Adam is coming home at the weekend and I just can’t wait to see him.”