A big part of Rhianna Poole’s life has been managing her 5-year-old daughter’s Type 1 diabetes since she’d been diagnosed as a toddler. It’s a daily regime that has been trying and traumatic at times.
When Rhianna’s doctor advised her that she was heading for Type 2 diabetes herself, it was a life-changing moment. She decided that it was time she focused on improving her own health so she could be there for her beloved family.
Rhianna says, “I already had high blood pressure, neck and back pain. Then, my doctor revealed that the reason that I had been having headaches and feeling shaky was because my blood glucose levels were all over the place. He said that I was only a step away from diabetes.
“How could I explain to my five-year-old daughter who had put up with needles and tests and appointments for three years, and who had the condition through no fault of her own that I had given myself Type 2 diabetes by being lazy and eating badly?”
Click to enlarge photos
Rhianna before
Rhianna at 97kg
Rhianna after
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30.1kg lighter
The diary
“Using the diary made me realise just how many calories I was consuming through my snacks and drinks. I was having between 14-18 coffees every day and each with two sugars. When I typed these into the diary, I was shocked to find that I would need to walk for four and a half hours just to work them off,” she says.
“I used to grab whatever I could for lunch, which normally happened to be biscuits or a sandwich with thickly spread peanut butter. Dinner was always healthy (meat and vegies), but it was clear that I was eating too much of it.”
The diary also opened her eyes to how much – or it appears, how little – exercise she was doing. She often popped onto her exercise bike and watched TV or read a magazine in the evenings, but the diary made it clear that her pace just was not brisk enough.
Rhianna says, “I cut out all junk foods and cut the coffees to six per day with a dash of skim milk and one sugar or less. I started to get headaches, no doubt from caffeine withdrawal, so I combated these by drinking more water.”
Because she was quite unfit at the start, Rhianna took things slowly exercise-wise. She says, “I learned fast that you have to focus on food and fitness every day – following the plan for three days and then having a break won’t work. You have to stay committed if you want the results to come.”
Family fitness
The whole Poole family has been very supportive of Rhianna’s get-fit plans. Her husband, Geoff, bought her an exercise console which she uses five or six days a week and has celebrated every goal that Rhianna has reached with a new game or weights or other fitness-based gifts. He works out with her when she needs a little help to get going, too.
Daughter, Cassie, has been helping her mum’s efforts in her own way. “She put a big sign on the fridge saying ‘mummy don’t forget to eat lots of fruit’,” says Rhianna. She also enjoys a spot of yoga with me and all the family love jumping on our favourite Christmas present – a large outdoor trampoline. That would have been impossible for me to do last year. Even the dog Amika seems to ask to be walked more often now, too.”
Rhianna came to The Biggest Loser Club courtesy of the free trial pass found inside The Club’s Shakes. Rhianna used two Shakes per day (one for breakfast and one for lunch or dinner) and a meal of meat or fish with vegies and pasta or boiled potatoes, to help her shrink from 97kg to 65.9kg, a loss of 31.1kg, equivalent to around a third of her starting body weight. Rhianna is continuing towards her goal of 63kg, “which is right for my height of 166cm according to The Commando,” she says.
Patience and persistence
Having tried just about every diet plan going, Rhianna thinks she was successful this time because she was in the right frame of mind. “I was persistent this time and seeing results right from the start helped a lot with this. Later, it was about the way I felt that saw me through. Plus, seeing my daughter every day weigh her food, do her test, and have her insulin injection always reminded me why I was doing it in the first place.”
Although she can’t say that it was easy every step of the way, Rhianna can tell you from experience that the only way to get to where you need to go is to stay strong for one day at a time. Planning ahead is crucial, “So if you know you’re going out, enjoy it but be extra careful on the days around it – increase your exercise and see if you can share dessert. But most importantly, fill in your diary even on a bad day. It’s a bit like confession when you’ve slipped up, but you’ll get support no matter what from your friends at The Club.”
Rhianna says, “Life is easier when you’re not dragging all that extra weight around. I enjoy a challenge now and I’m even starting to do mini marathons. I never thought I would ever do something like that.”
“I am no longer at risk of developing diabetes. If you can do something to avoid developing it, do it. My child didn’t have a choice, you do. Take care of yourself. Live your life – you’re worth it. I have a lot to smile about now, and my daughter loves her improved, healthy Mummy also!”