An Aussie mother-of-two has opened up about how she shed 22kg in 20 months after gauging on food and snacks while breastfeeding.
Vicky Brinks, from Perth, tipped the scales at 86kg following the birth of her second son, Elijah, and would eat ‘everything’ in the kitchen uncontrollably.
The 27-year-old told FEMAIL she struggled with self-control and social eating particularly during pregnancy as feeling hungry would make her feel nauseous.
‘If there was snacks in the pantry or food in front of me, I’d eat it all. I just couldn’t control myself around food,’ she said.
‘I rapidly gained weight at both the pregnancy and breastfeeding stage because of cravings and hunger-induced nausea – two aspects of my experience that I found incredibly difficult to initially control.
‘The only way to reduce the nausea was to eat something, leading to excess weight gain.
‘This continued into the next 12 months of breastfeeding, where the body’s additional caloric demands to maintain steady expression saw me continue reaching for snacks.’
While Vicky never had a binge eating disorder, she had a negative relationship with food from a young age.
Vicky Brinks, from Perth, went from 86kg to 65kg in 20 months after two back-to-back pregnancies
The 27-year-old told FEMAIL she struggled with self-control and social eating particularly during pregnancy as feeling hungry would make her feel nauseous
Since she was 12 Vicky’s struggled with weight gain and trying to keep it under control.
Vicky admitted she has a ‘very big sweet tooth’ and would snack on biscuits, chocolate, lollies and treats after a ‘big dinner’.
‘I love food so if I was at bored at home I’d get a snack. I’d always have a full plate of food at dinner time and eat the whole thing until it’s done. I never listened to my body and would eat lots of carbs, bread and pasta,’ she said.
‘I’m not a huge vegetable person but I always had a salad on the side.’
She would start the day with a bowl of cereal then slices of toast for lunch and wouldn’t eat any protein during the day.
‘If there was snacks in the pantry or food in front of me, I’d eat it all. I just couldn’t control myself around food,’ she said. Vicky’s saving grace was The 1:1 Diet for six months which helped her shed the unwanted fat over time and weight 65kg
When she was at her heaviest it was difficult looking at herself in the mirror and going out with friends.
‘I hated seeing looking at my reflection and seeing how much I had put on. I still looked pregnant even though I wasn’t,’ she said.
The young mum said she hated drawing attention to herself and didn’t want to highlight her weight gain.
‘I still went out with friends but never felt confident wearing nice clothes so I’d wear baggy shirts and pants. If people left food on their plates I would eat the leftovers,’ she said.
Before having kids Vicky tried losing weight herself by going to the gym but it ‘didn’t make any difference’ because she was still eating too much food.
Giving birth twice over a short timeframe meant she needed to consume more calories to be able to breastfeed.
According to healthline, mothers need to consume about 500 extra calories per day to provide their babies with everything they need to grow healthily, which can take its toll on the body and mind.
Demanding so much of a mother’s energy, breastfeeding mums can find themselves exhausted and starving, with snack cravings triggered by a lack of protein, vitamins and carbohydrates driving their appetite sky high.
Now expecting her third child she feels equipped with the right knowledge to handle any weight gain post-pregnancy
Vicky’s saving grace was The 1:1 Diet for six months which helped her shed the unwanted fat over time and weight 65kg.
The program provided her with meal replacement porridge, soup and shakes, and a guide for dinner. She ate no more than 800 calories a day and the weight ‘dropped off’.
For dinner she would have a small portion of meat with vegetables, such as chicken or beef, salad and potatoes.
She quickly started losing 1kg in one week and after a month she noticed a difference.
During her weight loss journey she had a consultant to ensure she was keeping on track.
Vicky emphasised the importance of accountability and support from her husband, who also followed the diet.
Now expecting her third child she feels equipped with the right knowledge to handle any weight gain post-pregnancy.
Reflecting on her experience with postpartum weight loss, she’s learnt that it’s a gradual journey requiring patience and self-compassion.
‘It may seem daunting initially, but even the smallest changes can have a big impact on yourself and your relationship with your body and your newborn baby,’ she said.
‘I saw the biggest changes through implementing the healthy habits that I learnt whilst on The 1:1 Diet, including eating tasty food that’s rich in protein and low in fat and finding time for gentle exercise.
‘Balancing my wellness with the demands of new motherhood was key, and celebrating small victories with a personal consultant along the way made the process more rewarding.’