Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Lia Bichel
A BERWICK woman who lost almost half her body weight encouraged residents with similar success stories to enter the 2011 Weight Watchers Healthy Life Awards (HLA).
Kelly Rogerson, 39, was the Victorian winner of the Healthy Life Awards 2010, after losing 56.4 kilograms through Weight Watchers.
The mother of three said the moment that drove her to join Weight Watchers was when she saw her reflection in the glass doors of a supermarket and thought it was another woman.
“I had gotten much bigger than I thought. I joined Weight Watchers the next day. I was 134 kilograms. I lost 40 kilograms in 42 weeks,” she said. “It was remarkably easy. At first, it was like I was following a program, then the program became my lifestyle. It’s about eating the right quantity of the right food groups.”
Ms Rogerson said she encouraged other people battling their weight to make the lifestyle change she did.
“I feel so much better now. I used to stress about whether I would fit in the seat of an airplane. Everything was a struggle,” she said. “Now, every minute of every day I feel fantastic. Life is fun.”
Weight Watchers is searching for more Australians with amazing health lifestyle transformation stories for this year’s HLA.
Some of the criteria that will decide the 2011 winner will include healthy weight-loss, overcoming weight-related disease and long-term lifestyle change.
Weight Watchers spokesperson Bronwyn Stubbs said there were many life-changing and inspiriing stories that deserved to be told and the competition was about celebration and reward for Australians who have turned their lives around by embracing a healthier lifestyle.
“One in two Australian adults are currently overweight or obese and obesity-related disease rates are on the rise, making it more important than ever that we publicly recognise those people within our society that have demonstrated that change is achievable and can act as inspiration for others,” Ms Stubbs said.
As a Platinum Partner of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Weight Watchers will donate $1 for each kilogram lost by this year’s entrants. National winners will be announced at a glittering gala event in Sydney in Novemer.
For more information and to enter the HLA visit www.healthlifeawards.com.au or call 1300 880 053.
