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HEARTBREAK OVERHAUL: Woman loses 40 kilos after her marriage ends

'Now I'm strong and proud' - by Beth Young
  • 28 Jul 2020

After hitting rock bottom, Kirsten transformed her entire life! Here, Kirsten Aisbett, 30, from Ballarat, Vic, tells the story in her own words.

HEARTBREAK OVERHAUL: Woman loses 40 kilos after her marriage ends
Supplied

Squeezing into my corset-style wedding dress, my skin pinched together uncomfortably, forcing my back fat to spill out.

I can hardly even breathe! I gasped.

Fast forward two years, my marriage was over, and tipping the scales at 95 kilos, I was at my biggest.

We’d even been trying to have a baby…

Heartbroken, all I could think to do was to stuff my face.

‘I just want a McChicken burger,’ I sobbed to a friend

Growing up, I’d been fit and healthy.

Now, at 26, I hid my frame in big flowy dresses, huge cardigans and comfy black stretchy leggings.

I’d gorge on KFC for lunch, and, too tired after working as a real estate agent to cook, I’d heat up frozen chips, chicken kievs and lasagne.

I’d gotten used to feeling sluggish and tired.

And, suddenly single, I was crippled with anxiety.

A black cloud of depression overwhelmed me.

One day, I was pushing a trolley down the supermarket aisle, when all of a sudden my chest tightened.

I need to get out of here, I panicked, petrified I’d see someone I knew

In social settings, my hands would shake uncontrollably.

Each night, my parents, Belinda and Tony, would come over to eat.

I’d signed up for a happy family and the pitter-patter of tiny feet.

Now, even though my social anxiety was at an all-time high, the thought of being alone was unbearable.

The GP diagnosed me with severe anxiety and depression and I was prescribed antidepressants. 

Taking them at work, I felt like a zombie.

‘I need to go home,’ I said to my boss.

Getting behind the wheel of my car and pulling up at home, I had no idea how I’d even got there.

I don’t want to feel like this every day, I decided, through the fog.

I couldn’t take the pills again. But something had to change…

‘You have gained a lot of weight, Kirsten,’ Mum said gently one day.

She’s right, I thought.

It was time to start looking after me.

My friend ran an all-girl bootcamp, so I started going to three to four sessions each week. I also swapped the convenient yet calorific meals for hearty rice, beef mince and fresh vegies.

The weight began to slide off, and I felt happier and healthier than I had in years. As my confidence returned, I began to spend time with friends I hadn’t seen in ages.

The old Kirsten’s back, I thought, ecstatic.

I still let go at the weekends, treating myself to nice dinners out

But finally, I was feeling comfy in my own skin again.

‘You look so much happier!’ friends and family would comment.

Working with a personal trainer, within three years, I’d whittled my size 14-16 frame down to 10-12.

Having lost an incredible 27 kilos, I now weighed 68 kilos!

kirstenashlea_pt View Profile
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Don't limit your challenges, challenge your limits. Consistency is key. Keep the focus on yourself, don't compare your progress to others and focus on improving yourself both physically and mentally. This process takes time but once you start seeing results I can tell you now it's a pretty god damn amazing feeling! Let me help transform your life the way I did. Never look back 💯 www.kirstenashleapersonaltraining.com ***************************************************** #mindset #progressnotperfection #transformationchallenge #fitgoals #healthylifestyle #health #nutrition #exercise #weightlosstransformation #weightlossjourney #strong #instatransformation #workout #fit #progress #slimmingworld #fitness #motivation #gym #fatloss #transformation #healthy #weightloss #healthyliving #muscle #beforeandafter #fitnessmotivation #wbff #wbffofficial

Moving gyms, I spotted pictures on the wall of people who had competed in some body-building competitions.

I could never do that, I thought.

But then I backed myself.

I reckon I could do a comp, I told my trainer, still a little unsure.

‘Let’s do it!’ he exclaimed, behind me all the way.

I had 20 weeks to hone my physique. Cutting out alcohol completely,

I carefully prepped all my meals on the weekend, so I’d never reach for junk food.

Up at 4.30am each day, I’d smash out 45 minutes of cardio before work, then do another hour-and-a-half workout afterwards.

Before bed, I’d have to do a whopping 20,000 steps!

kirstenashlea_pt View Profile
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Finally a member of the 80kg deadlift club! It wasn't my best form but I got it done 👌 Bring on the 100kg club 💪 - - - #gymshark #gymsharkwomen #fitness #goals #strong #muscles #girlswholift #quads #fitnessmotivation #fitnesstransformation #strong #weights #d2e #glutesworkout #strongnotskinny #gym #lift #fit #deadlift #fitspo #workout #gains #gym #follow #glutes #like #liftheavy #strong #motivation #bootygoals #lifestyle #bodybuilding #girlswithmuscles

By show day last September, I’d lost another 13 kilos, making it 40 in total.

At 55 kilos, I could slip comfortably into a size 8!

Before, I’d been too ashamed to even wear a swimsuit that showed my stretchmark-streaked belly.

Now, I was on stage, with my proud mum and dad in the crowd, wearing a bikini.

kirstenashlea_pt View Profile
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Your only limit is you 💯 ⠀⠀ If you want something so bad, nothing will stop you if you keep your eye on the prize. Stay focused, stay determined and work hard. ⠀⠀ Be your own god damn motivation to be the best version of yourself. Do it for you and you only. You've got this ✨

Striking the poses I’d been taught, my nerves fluttered.

But as the crowd cheered, the fear melted away.

I worked so hard to be here! I grinned.

Waiting for the winners to be announced, I was just proud to have competed.

I’m not going to place, I thought, as third, and second place was read out.

As the winner was announced, I clapped wildly.

Oh my God, it's me! I realised.

Accepting my medal, I couldn’t believe it.

‘We didn’t expect you to place!’ Dad said, shocked.

‘Me neither!’ I laughed.

It’s been four years since my heart was broken.

It didn’t happen overnight, but I’ve transformed myself.

I hope others might be inspired by my story.

Catching sight of myself in the mirror, I’m proud of how I look. But I’m even prouder of how I feel.

‘I’d hate to be your ex right now!’ friends joke.

kirstenashlea_pt View Profile
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Post comp update: To be honest, the last two weeks have been a massive adjustment for me both mentally and physically. During comp prep you often hear the saying "Post comp blues" and until it happens to you, you have no idea what to expect. I'm being completely honest when I say that I'm opening up about this so others know that they aren't the only ones feeling this way and that it's ok to feel this way. After 20 weeks of following a strict workout routine, a strict meal plan and restricting your social life completely I can tell you now that once that has been taken away and you go back to normality it's not as easy as it sounds. In no way am I saying that being as lean as I was is maintainable, but it is so hard mentally to allow yourself to go back to normal after comp and allow yourself to have that donut or that red wine. But I'm starting to remind myself that before comp I lived a balanced life where I socialized with friends and family and I loved having a drink or two and still worked out. What I did was a huge commitment and I need to stop putting pressure on myself to look or feel a certain way. I want to walk into the gym feeling strong, full of energy and focused on growing compared to being exhausted, sore and lacking energy. I am so glad I committed to doing a bikini competition and it's something I will forever be proud of because it taught me so much and educated me to put my health and fitness first. However, it's not realistic to be 8% body fat all year round. So here's to enjoying life, focusing on the good and allowing yourself to enjoy the pleasures in life ❤️🍷 - - - #bikinicompetitionprep #bikinicomp #fitness #mindset #bikinicompetitorintraining #body #weights #strong #positive #postcomp #fit #gym #weights #weightlifting #selflove #strongwoman #lift #quads #sport #sportmodel

But, happily single, I’m not looking for a relationship. And I didn’t overhaul myself for anyone else.

There was one person I needed to fall back in love with, and I have – me!

kirstenashlea_pt View Profile
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"Now I'm strong and proud!" ⠀⠀ My journey didn't happen overnight. It took me four years to get to a point where I can finally say I am truly happy physically and mentally. I'm not only proud of how far I have come, but I'm even prouder of how I feel. ⠀⠀ There was one person that I needed to fall back in love with and to get up on that stage was by far my biggest achievement in life. Going from being such a happy person to gaining so much weight, I knew that something had to change. ⠀⠀ For those wanting to read my story, grab your copy of @thatslifeau (Issue 26) that hit the shelves today! ⠀⠀ Hopefully I can continue to inspire others to make a change and completely transform their lives just the way I have 🙏 ***************************************************** #ballarat #transformation #positivemind #news #lifestyle #weightlossjourney #weightlosstransformation #thatslife #thatslifemagazine #australia #wellnessjourney #australiannews #journey #life #personalgrowth #happiness #selflove #putyourselffirst
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Beth Young
Beth Young
Beth is senior features writer for that's life! and host of the podcast How I Survived.

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