"What life is like after starring in a weight loss ad."

September 21, 2015

Image via iStock.

I was standing at my local Donut King outlet about to order a hot cinnamon donut to go with my skim cap when I was approached.

“Don’t do it love,” the older lady said to me. “I’ve seen your ad. You’re doing so well!” With that, she patted me on the shoulder and continued on her way. I wish I could say this was a lone incident.

The last thing I ever expected to happen after being featured in a weight-loss ad was to have my eating habits constantly scrutinised by strangers at my local shopping centre but it happens pretty much every day.

I’m not a celebrity. Most people have no idea who I am. It’s only in my local area that people recognise me eventually and can’t help but say something.

I was buying some thinly sliced mild salami at my local deli just yesterday and the man who served me said, “This isn’t for you, is it?” I lied and said it wasn’t. Hell yeah it’s for me! It’s not like I was buying a chocolate bar or a toffee apple or a donut! And I’m Italian. I was weaned on salami in crusty bread. My blood-type demands it!

"The last thing I ever expected to happen after being featured in a weight-loss ad was to have my eating habits constantly scrutinised." Image via iStock.

September 21, 2015

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I’ve been using the weight loss product whose ad I now feature in for over fifteen years. I discovered it when I was young and in love with a super fit boy and desperate to get in shape. I’d also scored an awesome job that I wanted to look really good for. So I signed up and it worked like a charm. I continued to order the food every now and then and I used it after each of my pregnancies to get into the routine of healthy eating.

What all my food-critic strangers don’t realise is that I am not trying to lose weight anymore and that I don’t eat just diet food alone. I’m in maintenance and have been for quite a few years. I eat what I want, when I want, within reason, and if I ever need to lose a few kilos I go on the program again and then move on.

The other myth going around is that the ad has made me rich. The lady who has been making my green juice at my local health bar for the past seven years said, “The royalties must be good!”

What royalties?

I am a real customer and my ad is a ‘testimonial’. That means I was not paid for the ad, nor was I paid for the ad I did for them five years ago. They flew me and my kids to Queensland for filming and paid for all of that, send me a couple of weeks of free food and now I get a discount on every order. I get about $10-$20 off each delivery. (Post continues after gallery.)

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BreadKATIE THOMSITT, Dieticians Australia spokesperson says: "Lots of people shy away from bread to achieve weight loss. But bread is such an important source of fibre, and plays such a helpful role in weight loss and preventing bowel cancer. A couple of slices of a dark, seedy bread per day is absolutely fine."

CheeseKATIE SAYS: "Cheese is definitely a higher fat source of dairy, but still a good dairy fat. Choose low-fat options if you have it regularly, otherwise consume it in moderation. One serve of dairy is 30g, so a couple of slices is absolutely fine."

ChocolateKARA LANDAU, The Travelling Dietician says: "Studies have been able to show that dark chocolate can improve insulin sensitivity, reduce blood pressure in healthy individuals, protect against heart disease, and improve HDL good cholesterol (not a bad start for such a tasty food!). Dark chocolate also contains polyphenols, whilst white chocolate does not. These polyphenolic compounds are able to relax blood vessels allowing for better blood circulation, and thereby assisting with the maintenance of healthy blood pressure levels."

CoffeeKATIE SAYS: "Coffee is a really good snack, in particular if its milk-based to get the dairy in - for example, a skim latte. As long as its in moderation - daily guidelines say a maximum of three per day! And you want lots of water on top of that."

EggsKARA SAYS: "Yes, even the yolks are good for you! Healthy fat soluble vitamins, as well as half the protein found in an egg, are all found in the yolk!"

Avocado KATIE SAYS: "Avocado is a healthy fat. Lots of people think its high-fat and not good for you, but its rich in mono unsaturated fats, which give you protection against heart disease. It also helps with controlling lower cholesterol levels."

nutsKATIE SAYS: "Nuts fall into the same category as avocado - they have lots of healthy oils and fibre."

dairyKARA SAYS: "Often milk and yoghurts are fortified with Vitamin D (a fat soluble vitamin) which requires a small amount of fat to be present in order for the body to absorb it, therefore having the full fat variety can be of value to enhance the nutritional benefits from the products' consumption. The fat in the dairy also aids with satiety, which could prevent unhealthy snacking at a later point in the day."

PotatoKATIE SAYS: "Potato always gets a bad rap as a starchy vegetable, but it's an excellent source of fibre. Sweet potato in particular is great for weight management and sugar level control. Potatoes are also really rich in potassium."

Red meatKARA SAYS: People tend to restrict red meat unnecessarily, thinking that its high in saturated fat. "But lean red meat is high in protein, CLA (which has been found to be associated with lower body fat percentages), B12, iron and zinc. These are all nutrients we want to get into our body!"

I’m also terrified of putting on weight. Five years ago when the first ad went to air I almost developed an eating disorder trying to look like the girl in the ad. I went a little crazy and refused to eat anything in public for the longest time.

This time I was more prepared. I took a few deep breaths and stuck to my usual routine which was five days of careful eating and two of more relaxed eating, one of which I was trying to fulfil on Donut Day and Salami Day.

A lot of people I know have also accused me of being an actress who was just pretending to need a weight loss program.

“You’ve never been big, the whole time I’ve known you,” they explain. I’ve taken to keeping a few ‘fat photos’ on my iPhone to show them.

I have one from my sister’s wedding, one from a family party and one from my last year of high school. I’m significantly larger than they have ever known me to be and their reactions range from complete silence to, “Wow, you look like a different person.”

I was. I was a different person. I was a very young and very stressed person who ate her feelings. I still eat my feelings, just not every day. I’m still stressed, I just handle it better.

“Does it work?” is the other question I get a lot. “Yes, it works. All weight loss programs work, you just have to find the one that works for you.”

"I’m also terrified of putting on weight. Five years ago when the first ad went to air I almost developed an eating disorder trying to look like the girl in the ad." Image via iStock.

I’ll never completely go off the program. When you find something that works for you and your health it becomes part of your lifestyle. I go back to my choice of weight loss product, some people do a cleanse, some cut out carbs and some do a detox.

We all have our tricks and tips.

The overall message I want people to take is that we are not our weight. Our weight has nothing to do with our value. I am not a better person than when I was bigger. I’m not happier because I am thinner.

And I’m certainly not happy that I can’t buy a hot cinnamon donut at my local shopping centre as long as the ad is running, although I have found another shopping centre that is just a short drive from my home but far enough away that nobody recognises me.

Because life is too short to live without donuts.

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