Finding her mojo at 66: How Pat lost 19.4kg and gained a life she loves

For as long as she can remember, Pat Lind felt like her weight was something she was constantly battling.

Now 66, the retail salesperson from Embleton in Western Australia can trace her earliest memories of weight gain back to childhood, around the age of six or seven. As she moved through adulthood, dieting became a familiar — and frustrating — cycle. Lose a little, gain it back. Try again. Repeat. After the birth of her two children, the weight became even more stubborn, refusing to budge despite her best efforts.

By the time Pat reached 75.8kg, life felt heavy in more ways than one.

“I was constantly exhausted,” she says. “I had no energy, terrible sugar spikes, and I was always snacking just to get through the day.”

Although Pat loved cooking, her meals were rich in oils, bad fats, processed ingredients and sugars. The result was a daily rollercoaster of energy highs and crashes. Exercise felt almost impossible. Walking left her huffing and puffing. Her clothes cut into her body. Even simple pleasures like going to the beach or pool felt out of reach.

“I was too embarrassed to bare my body,” Pat recalls. “I avoided it altogether.”

The Moment That Changed Everything

Turning 60 became Pat’s moment of truth. Alongside watching family members struggle with health issues — including her mother’s type 2 diabetes — she realised something had to change.

“I wanted to live a healthy and fit life for as long as possible,” she says. “I wanted to travel, swim in the ocean, and trek around the world without physical issues holding me back.”

Like many members, Pat had tried countless diets over the decades, from popular commercial programs to extreme short-term approaches. What she wanted now wasn’t another quick fix — it was something sustainable.

That’s when she discovered the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, a program backed by decades of Australian scientific research and proven results.

“What drew me in was that it’s science-backed, based on real food, and supported by a fantastic app and website,” she explains. “It felt like a lifestyle shift, not another fad.”

Learning how food really affected her body

In the early stages of her journey, Pat found the program’s structured meal plans invaluable. Having access to nutritionally balanced, flexible meal plans took the guesswork out of eating and helped her build consistency — without feeling deprived.

Equally powerful were the digital tools, particularly the food tracker and weight tracker, which helped Pat understand how different foods affected her energy levels, hunger and blood sugar.

“For the first time, I was developing genuinely good eating habits,” she says.

Rather than feeling restricted, Pat learned how to fuel her body properly. When the scales stalled or crept up slightly, she didn’t spiral into guilt.

“I reminded myself how far I’d come, reset, and moved forward,” she says. “No drama, no shame.”

In just 11 months, Pat lost 19.4kg, joining thousands of members who have achieved clinically meaningful weight loss through the program. Her transformation is now one of many success stories contributing to the program’s overall results.

Health wins that go beyond the scales

The benefits Pat experienced weren’t just visible — they were measurable.

Her bad cholesterol and blood sugar levels reduced, and she was able to avoid knee replacement surgery thanks to improved strength, mobility and physio-guided exercise.

Now more than four years into maintenance, Pat still uses the weekly weight tracker to stay accountable — especially around holidays or busy periods.

“It’s a great reminder to keep myself in check, without being obsessive,” she says.

Her daily routine now includes regular gym sessions combining cardio, strength training and physiotherapy exercises, supported by nourishing, protein-rich meals.

And importantly, there’s still room for enjoyment.

“I’ve learned to let go of guilt,” Pat says. “I can enjoy a glass of wine or a piece of dark chocolate and simply move on.”

Confidence, freedom and a whole new outlook

Perhaps the biggest transformation has been Pat’s confidence.

“I go out to social engagements feeling amazing instead of frumpy,” she says. “I love clothes now. I feel proud of my body.”

She swims at the beach without embarrassment, walks more than 10,000 steps a day with ease, and performs strength exercises she once thought were impossible — from weighted sit-ups to minute-long planks.

“I’ve found my mojo,” Pat says with a smile.

Looking ahead, her goals are simple but joyful: travel the world, enjoy life with zest, and keep up with the young ones — even at music festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella.

Pat’s advice for anyone starting their journey

After nearly 60 years of struggling with her weight, Pat’s advice is simple:

“Never give up. Start small. Small steps become big achievements. Be kind to yourself and keep moving forward — even on the hard days.”

If Pat’s story has shown you what’s possible, you can explore how the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet works, the science behind it, the meal plans and tools available, and pricing options — and decide whether it’s the right fit for your own journey.

Because as Pat proves, it’s never too late to transform your health, confidence and life.