I’m Anna, 41 years old, and I live on a small lifestyle property in Ashburton, New Zealand, with my husband Russ and three young children. I’m a part-time primary school teacher and stay-at-home Mum. I grew up in an ‘average’ Kiwi home in the 80s/90s; very few takeaways and ultra-processed foods, but delicious home-cooked meals and a really active lifestyle, playing a lot of sport. 

I developed early and had a lean, athletic build. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 14 years old, and later with insulin resistance and hypothyroidism. Playing a lot of sport kept my weight in check, but I always felt bigger than my peers. 

The freedom to eat what I wanted, partying at university and decreased physical activity after moving out of home saw my weight balloon. I’ve done Weight Watchers multiple times over the years and could lose a lot of weight since I’m a rule follower and very good at keeping to a diet! But Icould never get to that point of maintenance. Returning to NZ after living overseas, I met Russ, and started doing CrossFit in 2014 and seeing a nutritionist. I focused on eating nutrient-dense ‘clean’ foods and lost about 20kg. In 2017, Russ and I married, and I was the smallest I’d been in a long time. A year later, we had our son, and 21 months later, our middle daughter. I sadly miscarried our 3rd baby and then had our youngest daughter in 2022. I developed gestational diabetes early on in my last pregnancy and was injecting insulin. This, coupled with a family history of diabetes on both sides of my family, meant I was on track to develop diabetes in the near future. 

Being pregnant 4 times in 5 years and looking after a young family meant my health took a back seat, and I continued putting on weight. I’ve always enjoyed cooking healthy meals for my family and kept working out, but was fighting a losing battle. I was resigned to the fact I would be plus size for the rest of my life, and was trying to be ok with that, I couldn’t see any other way.

On 15 July 2024, I started IF and haven’t looked back, losing over 35kg in just over a year and am now heading towards the land of maintenance. 

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The views expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guest only and should not be taken as medical advice.