Not so long ago, Karen Illanes would have described herself as a “big girl who lacked motivation”. In denial about her ballooning weight, this young mum was in a rut, having convinced herself that this was her lot in life. However, on her daughter’s fourth birthday, Karen finally decided that mediocrity was no longer acceptable and that necessary lifestyle changes were needed in order for her to be the best mum she could be.
“I felt I was failing my daughter because I had no energy and little motivation,” Karen said. “I was always finding excuses not to do things and I felt horrible about that. It was time to make some big changes and be a good role model for her."
Healthy lifestyle, healthy attitude
With newfound determination and fortitude, Karen not only resolved to get fit and healthy, she also revived her career plans which had been put on hold while she was overweight and her daughter was little.
“I am now doing a bachelor of criminology and criminal justice and will eventually do law,” she explained. “If you had asked me a year ago whether this was possible I probably would have said no but losing weight has changed my life and, these days, I am so disciplined and motivated that I know I can do anything.”
Diary miles
Karen has certainly come a long way but she said the journey has actually been much easier than she expected – thanks to The Biggest Loser Club and its online diary, which enabled her to stay within her calorie range and watch her nutritional intake.
“In terms of counting calories, the diary took all the hard work away. It helped me prepare and plan for the day and it showed me the importance of breaking an old habit of not having breakfast. If there was a week when I didn’t lose much weight I was able to look at the diary to see what I did and didn’t do, and learn from it. Even now I am surprised how much fat and calories are in some meals that appear to be healthy so it pays to be better informed.”
Karen is also a regular user of The Biggest Loser Club online forums having developed friendships with other members. She is grateful for the support and encouragement they showed her and is now delighted to be able to support, motivate and encourage others who are starting on their weight loss journey.
“People are looking to me for inspiration now and that makes me feel so good,” she said.
Click to enlarge photos
Karen before
Karen before
Karen after
Karen after
Karen after
Enjoying those sexy curves
While Karen is continuing to lose weight thanks to a healthy eating plan and plenty of exercise, she is mindful that she doesn’t ever want to be “skinny” but instead keep her feminine curves which are much admired in her South American culture.
“For me to maintain my weight I will stick with The Biggest Loser Club. I know I could easily lose another 10kg but I’m not sure that would work for me. I look at my body now and see its nice curves and I feel sexy the way I am.”
Losing weight is liberating
However, Karen’s weight loss has not just been good for her sex appeal. Since joining The Biggest Loser Club she said her uni grades have improved dramatically and she is more organised and less stressed around exam time. As for her all-important parenting role, Karen has embraced it with gusto, revelling in her boundless energy and enthusiasm for being a mum.
“I am 100% convinced that being in a better, more positive state of mind has contributed to my performance at uni, and there is no doubt that losing weight is enabling me to do so much more with my daughter. I really feel I am living now.”
Beware those who judge
It’s hard to believe that this inspiring and gung-ho young mum has ever been anything but optimistic but, sadly, Karen reveals that for most of her adult life she felt that others had unfairly judged her because of her size. She wonders whether other Biggest Loser Club members have also felt the same way.
“Strangers treat me differently now and I’m sure that’s because being fat carries a stigma,” she said. “Before, when I would go to the shops, people wouldn’t give me the time of day but now they are really helpful. It’s wrong but it’s true that big people can lose credibility in other people’s eyes. Because of that I would never have felt comfortable being an overweight lawyer so I was determined that my weight would not limit me in the future with my job prospects.”
Karen’s top tips for weight loss:
- Don’t think about it, just do it.
- Buy a heart rate monitor for exercising.
- Invest in a good pair of running shoes.
- Use the kitchen scales to take the guesswork out of calorie counting.
- Believe that you can do it. Losing weight is mind over matter.