'It was so excruciating': Melbourne mum's extreme pain leads to life-changing decision
By Jo Abi|
Flo Tamate admits she is still trying to chase that work-family-life balance. Tamate, 42, works as a postal worker in Melbourne and it's a particularly busy time of the year.
"I was born in Wellington, New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, I've only lived in Melbourne for five years," she tells 9Honey. "My other half got work over here and we have twin 16-year-old boys, Antonio and Hunter."
Life is busy, and add an upcoming wedding to the mix and the schedule has become even more hectic. Tamate and Michael, 50, are planning to marry in December.
"We did everything backwards, we had the kids, got the house and now we are getting married," she shares.
?Her wedding couldn't be more perfectly timed now that Tamate is in the best health of her life.
"Being a Pacific Islander I grew up with a lot of food," she tells 9Honey. "We'd have quite a lot of green bananas, taro, chop sui and a lot of heavy meats. We were always told to finish everything on our plates, that's just the kind of upbringing we had."
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?Of all of the children in the family, Tamate was the only one who struggled with her weight from a young age.
"Growing up as a kid I was quite overweight," she says. "I would have been a little overweight during high school? but I became active then playing basketball. But out of high school the weight piled on."
After finishing school Tamate began working in hospitality where delicious food was always available.
"I'd eat and go to bed then wake up and do it all over again," she says. "I was very overweight in my twenties and then it basically escalated when we had the boys. I was very uncomfortable because I was already carrying a lot of weight and when I was pregnant it just doubled. And I had summer babies so it was excruciating."
Nothing changed after the births of her boys with Tamate still eating "the same way I did when I was working."?
"At the time I just wasn't in that headspace to know any better," she says. ?
She tried different diets จC Atkins, shakes, seeing a doctor, but none produced long-lasting results.
"I'd lose weight quick and fast but I knew I couldn't do it forever," she says.
She'd even tried WeightWatchers (WW) once before, back in New Zealand but says she "fell off the wagon."
"?My WW journey only really started when I moved to Melbourne when I was in my thirties," she says. "I was severely overweight, the boys were 10 and I'd just been told I needed a hip replacement but the surgeon told me I had to lose weight for it to be a safer process.
"He said to me very up front to lose weight, that I am severely obese," Tamate recalls. "I walked out of that consultation that day thinking I would lose weight if it were the last thing I did and I decided to try WW again. I knew it had worked in the past but I hadn't been committed to it then."
Her first meeting was "emotional" and thinking about it still brings her to tears.
"I knew I needed to do this so I could live my best life and be the best version of myself for me and my kids and be a good role model," she says.
Because of her hip, Tamate was only able to walk and swim for exercise but was able to completely transform her diet in a sustainable way.
She lost 20 kilos, and underwent hip replacement surgery four years ago.
"I had the operation and then rehabilitation for about three months because I had been walking a certain way due to my lip, lopsided," she explains.
Recent WeightWatchers research found reducing intake of comfort foods, sticking to an exercise routine, and monitoring weight are the top things 50 percent of Australians will prioritise to meet their health goals before the end of the year.?
"The program has really evolved since I first joined," Tamate says. "For me it was about portion sizes and learning good eating habits and making sure I was drinking plenty of liquids.
"What I love is nothing is off limits. You can still have your piece of cake. Everything in moderation and you can eat the same food as everyone else," Tamate says.
"Having a good relationship with food is most important to me," she continues.
"I enjoy what I eat, I stay active and its about my overall wellbeing. There will be weeks if I am really busy at work or just have a crappy week I might not have lost weigh tor even gained weight, but I can start fresh the next day. You can't beat yourself up."
For those at the beginning of their health journeys, Tamate says ?to set "small goals."
Heading into the warmer months, Tamate is excited to mix up meal prep with seasonal fruits and vegetables, and incorporate more outdoor activity and swimming into exercise.
"A vision board showing my progress and ambitions is my go-to reminder to help me stay on track."
"And be gentle with yourself and kind and find a support group," she adds. "I was really helped by mums who were also in the same boat. Also celebrate non-scale victories.
"It's not just about weight loss. It's having confidence and looking good and feeling good."?
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