Two goals smashed - weight and half marathon

After having 2 kids, Jo found it hard to take the weight off. She tried several diets but nothing seemed to last.

Her main goal was to be a good example for her children so she started running with a local mums' group but even the daily exercise didn't budge the needle.

That's when she decided to get serious about her diet. Jo joined the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, lost 22 kg* and hit her goal weight.

*In 5 months. Individual results may vary.

Yo-yo dieting

"My weight loss journey has been up and down. I've been able to lose the weight before but I've never been able to keep it off," says Jo.

"This time I went in with a different frame of mind and thought about what I needed to do to make sure it is a long term solution - that I am creating long term habits."

Jo's problem was limiting herself when it came to food. While she has no problem getting up early in the morning to exercise, she used to find it hard to be strict with her diet.

She has always struggled with her weight. While she's found ways to lose weight before, she's always put it right back on.

Lifestyle change, not diet change

The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet worked for Jo because it taught her how to change her lifestyle when it came to her diet. She readily admits she doesn't love to cook but at least now she can provide healthy and nutritious meals for herself and for her family.

"For me, the really important part was the menu planning. I decided to follow the program religiously for a period of time until I could reset my body and mind about how I should eat," she says.

"The food is enjoyable and filling, and while I now allow myself to be more flexible, it's really important for me to take the time on the weekend to work out my weekly plan."

"As a busy mum of two I've really found that the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet fits in well with our family. We all eat the same things and the kids enjoy the meals - well, most of them."

Finished a half marathon

Losing the weight meant that Jo became fitter and more confident in her running ability. She went from walking every day to running shorter distances to finally completing a half marathon. To date, she's finished three half marathons. Her next goal is to finish a full 42.2 km marathon.

"Since I've lost the weight my husband has just been proud of how I changed my lifestyle and my kids just think it's normal for mummy to be out running and they want to do the same," Jo says.