WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Beauty
  • Podcasts
  • Video
WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Beauty
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
Abbie Chatfield Shares Inspiring Body Positivity Message On instagram
Watch 0:55

Abbie Chatfield Shares Inspiring Body Positivity Message On instagram

{headline}

{headline}

'The 30-Day Instagram Program That Helped Me Drop 55kg And Build Muscle'

'The 30-Day Instagram Program That Helped Me Drop 55kg And Build Muscle'

'The Eating And Exercise Regime That Helped Me Lose 10.25kg And 8.2% Body Fat In 8 Weeks'

'The Eating And Exercise Regime That Helped Me Lose 10.25kg And 8.2% Body Fat In 8 Weeks'

Drew Barrymore Just Dubbed This A Total 'Game Changer' For Weight Loss

Drew Barrymore Just Dubbed This A Total 'Game Changer' For Weight Loss

People Are Freaking Out About How Small Kim Kardashian’s Waist Looked In Her Met Gala Dress

People Are Freaking Out About How Small Kim Kardashian’s Waist Looked In Her Met Gala Dress

{headline}

{headline}

Lara Bingle Credits This One Thing For Her Smoking Hot Bod

Lara Bingle Credits This One Thing For Her Smoking Hot Bod

The Program That Helped This Aussie Woman Lose More Than 47kgs

The Program That Helped This Aussie Woman Lose More Than 47kgs

Beyonce’s Pre-Coachella Diet And Exercise Regime Is Actually The Stuff Of Nightmares

Beyonce’s Pre-Coachella Diet And Exercise Regime Is Actually The Stuff Of Nightmares

{headline}

{headline}

Science May Just Have Busted The 80/20 Rule

Science May Just Have Busted The 80/20 Rule

‘This Simple Strategy Helped Me Lose 34kg And Maintain It For 7 Years’

‘This Simple Strategy Helped Me Lose 34kg And Maintain It For 7 Years’

How Much Weight Can You Lose In A Week?

How Much Weight Can You Lose In A Week?

'I Lost 50kg By Adopting This Simple Habit At Mealtimes'

'I Lost 50kg By Adopting This Simple Habit At Mealtimes'

'I Lost 56kg By Making These Tiny Changes To My Diet And Lifestyle'

'I Lost 56kg By Making These Tiny Changes To My Diet And Lifestyle'

How To Lose Stubborn Belly Fat For Good, According To Weight Loss Experts

How To Lose Stubborn Belly Fat For Good, According To Weight Loss Experts

9 Things You Must Do to Lose Weight Over 40, According to Experts

9 Things You Must Do to Lose Weight Over 40, According to Experts

  1. Home
  2. Weight Loss

The 'Eureka' Moments That Helped These 4 Women Lose More Than 15kgs

These were the wake-up calls that sparked their incredible transformations. - by Karen Asp
  • 26 Oct 2017
The 'Eureka' Moments That Helped These 4 Women Lose More Than 15kgs
Getty

Over the past 13 years, Women's Health has documented hundreds of women's weight-loss journeys in our "You Lose, You Win" column. And while each story is complex and personal, one common thread weaves through all of them: a eureka moment.

The scientific world has long been familiar with these "aha" insights, but researchers are newly seeing them as pivotal catalysts for losing weight. "In terms of health, it has to do with realizing a behavior change fits with your life goals," says Elliot Berkman, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at the University of Oregon in Eugene. That, he says, jolts people into action. 

We asked four women to share how a lightbulb moment sparked their transformations.

DANIELL NIELSEN JENKINS, 41

WEIGHT LOST: 36kg

Daniell nielsen jenkins
Supplied

RELATED: Steph Claire Smith’s Remarkable Body Transformation

HER AHA MOMENT: On the morning of August 16, 2012, Daniell received word that her husband, Brandon, a police officer, had been killed on the job. Mired in grief, she experienced a flash of clarity that told her she had to get healthy and strong for their five children.

HOW SHE HARNESSED IT: Daniell had struggled with weight most of her life and had yo-yoed in the past. This time, though, at 97kg, she approached things differently: "as something I was doing for myself, not to myself," she says. Six weeks after Brandon was killed, Daniell joined a gym and began working out with a trainer. She also started tracking her food with the MyFitnessPal app. Eliminating added sugar and empty carbs made a difference on the scale and inspired the former nail salon owner to become a personal trainer and help others get to a healthier place too.

KATHERINE GARCIA, 28 

WEIGHT LOST: 17kg

Katherina Garcia
Supplied

HER AHA MOMENT: While on holiday in April 2016, Katherine saw a photo of herself at the beach at 100kg. "I suddenly recognised that my weight was a reflection of me not caring about myself," she says. "I'd been using food to fill a void."

HOW SHE HARNESSED IT: As soon as she returned home, Katherine hired a nutrition coach, who had her start to practice mindful eating (taking time to chew her food and listen to her body's fullness cues), consume more veggies, and set boundaries with friends who often wanted to eat out or sent her tempting Instagram "food porn" photos (Katherine asked them to support her on her path to better health). She also began doing Zumba three or four times a week. Now, she has kept up her exercise habit and has mostly kicked her sugar addiction.

TYRAIA COLBERT, 33

WEIGHT LOST: 36kg

Tyraia colbert
Supplied

HER AHA MOMENT: In 2014, something clicked for stiletto enthusiast Tyraia. "I could barely make it from the car park to my office because my weight [136kg] made wearing heels so uncomfortable," she says. "I knew I had to do something."

HOW SHE HARNESSED IT: Tyraia signed up for her job's wellness program — she's an office assistant at a medical center — and worked with a nutritionist to overcome her stress eating. She also began attending cardio-strength classes, Zumba, Pilates, and yoga four or five times a week. On lunch breaks, she walked to rack up 5,000 steps. Two years later, Tyraia's success has hinged on focusing on the positive. "People think that if they ate one bad meal, it's over, but you can get back up and keep trying," she says.

CATHERINE ANDERSON, 50

WEIGHT LOST: 46kg

Catherine anderson
Supplied

HER AHA MOMENT: Right before Mother's Day in 2009, Catherine's then-husband filed for divorce. At 108kg, "I'd been miserable in my body for years," she says. "The shock of the split inspired me to take back some control of my life."

HOW SHE HARNESSED IT: After the divorce was finalised, Catherine joined Weight Watchers with a friend. After two years of doing cardio on a treadmill, she began exercising with a trainer at a gym, who introduced her to strength workouts and high-intensity interval training. "I embraced the challenge," she says. Encouraged by visible results, she cut out most processed foods, flour, and sugar and developed a love for healthier living: "The more time you put into the things you want to change, the more you'll change."

This article originally appeared on Women’s Health US.

RELATED: 'Exactly How I Lost 18kgs After Years Of Yo-Yo Dieting'

  • Fitness
  • Food
  • Weight Loss
  • Workout

FREE aim'n Fitness Pack-SAVE 25%

when you subscribe to Women's Health

Subscribe Now
FREE aim'n Fitness Pack

FREE aim'n Fitness Pack-SAVE 25%

when you subscribe to Women's Health

Subscribe Now
FREE aim'n Fitness Pack

Recommended to you

Abbie Chatfield Shares Inspiring Body Positivity Message On instagram
Watch 0:55

Abbie Chatfield Shares Inspiring Body Positivity Message On instagram

{headline}

{headline}

'The 30-Day Instagram Program That Helped Me Drop 55kg And Build Muscle'

'The 30-Day Instagram Program That Helped Me Drop 55kg And Build Muscle'

'The Eating And Exercise Regime That Helped Me Lose 10.25kg And 8.2% Body Fat In 8 Weeks'

'The Eating And Exercise Regime That Helped Me Lose 10.25kg And 8.2% Body Fat In 8 Weeks'

Drew Barrymore Just Dubbed This A Total 'Game Changer' For Weight Loss

Drew Barrymore Just Dubbed This A Total 'Game Changer' For Weight Loss

People Are Freaking Out About How Small Kim Kardashian’s Waist Looked In Her Met Gala Dress

People Are Freaking Out About How Small Kim Kardashian’s Waist Looked In Her Met Gala Dress

{headline}

{headline}

Lara Bingle Credits This One Thing For Her Smoking Hot Bod

Lara Bingle Credits This One Thing For Her Smoking Hot Bod

The Program That Helped This Aussie Woman Lose More Than 47kgs

The Program That Helped This Aussie Woman Lose More Than 47kgs

Beyonce’s Pre-Coachella Diet And Exercise Regime Is Actually The Stuff Of Nightmares

Beyonce’s Pre-Coachella Diet And Exercise Regime Is Actually The Stuff Of Nightmares

{headline}

{headline}

Science May Just Have Busted The 80/20 Rule

Science May Just Have Busted The 80/20 Rule

‘This Simple Strategy Helped Me Lose 34kg And Maintain It For 7 Years’

‘This Simple Strategy Helped Me Lose 34kg And Maintain It For 7 Years’

How Much Weight Can You Lose In A Week?

How Much Weight Can You Lose In A Week?

'I Lost 50kg By Adopting This Simple Habit At Mealtimes'

'I Lost 50kg By Adopting This Simple Habit At Mealtimes'

'I Lost 56kg By Making These Tiny Changes To My Diet And Lifestyle'

'I Lost 56kg By Making These Tiny Changes To My Diet And Lifestyle'

How To Lose Stubborn Belly Fat For Good, According To Weight Loss Experts

How To Lose Stubborn Belly Fat For Good, According To Weight Loss Experts

9 Things You Must Do to Lose Weight Over 40, According to Experts

9 Things You Must Do to Lose Weight Over 40, According to Experts

WomensHealth
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • 7Plus
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
WomensHealth Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • 7Plus
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Instyle
  • marie claire
  • Who

Pacific Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Men’s Health
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • All Recipes
  • Practical Parenting
© 2019 Pacific Magazines
Get more from Women's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

FREE aim'n Fitness Pack-SAVE 25%

Shop This Offer
FREE aim'n Fitness Pack