From 80 kg to 52 kg: My Weight Loss Journey, The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Okay, so let’s talk about something that took me way too long to admit: weight loss. Or, in my case, the long and winding road from being “big mom energy” to finally feeling like I’ve got my act together (mostly).

When I first got pregnant, I didn’t even think about losing weight. It wasn’t even on my radar. I was around 62–65 kg, which was fine by me, but I wasn’t exactly running marathons or eating clean. I figured I’d lose a few kilos before we started trying for a baby, but life had other plans. I got pregnant on the first try. Like, bam—no prep, no time to lose weight, just full-speed ahead into the pregnancy journey.

By the time I gave birth, I’d hit 100 kg. Yep, 100. I don’t think I even realized what was happening, honestly. You don’t pay attention to the scale when you’re too busy with newborn chaos, lack of sleep, and endless diaper changes. After giving birth, I didn’t really pressure myself to lose the baby weight right away. Who has time for that when you’re running on fumes? I think I settled around 80–82 kg after a while, and I was okay with it. I was so in the weeds of motherhood that the last thing on my mind was fitting into old clothes.

But here’s the kicker: When my daughter turned 3, I had a doctor’s appointment that changed everything. Casual as ever, my doctor goes, “Your cholesterol is a bit high. It’s not a big deal now, but it could cause heart problems down the road.” And boom. That hit me like a ton of bricks. I had heard it all before—high cholesterol, high blood pressure, family health history—but hearing it about myself? That was a wake-up call. I walked out of that appointment feeling like I was sitting on a time bomb.

That was December 2018. By January 2019, I knew I had to do something about it. So what did I do? I bought a Fitbit. Not because I thought I’d become a fitness guru, but because I thought tracking my steps would be fun. And you know what? It was. I wasn’t thinking, “I need to lose weight.” I was thinking, “Hey, let’s see how many steps I can rack up today.” It was all about little wins.

So every morning, I’d drop my daughter off at daycare, then go for a walk. Nothing fancy—just a walk around the canal by my house, usually 30 minutes to an hour. That became my happy place. It was quiet, calm, and just for me—and at that moment, that’s exactly what I needed. I wasn’t running; I wasn’t pushing myself. I was just... walking. And it was the best part of my day.

But then something unexpected happened: my body started to ask for more. One day, I was walking, and all of a sudden, I found myself breaking into a light jog. It wasn’t a conscious decision, but my body just kind of... pushed me. I started running, but not like “Olympic-level running” or anything—more like “let’s see how far I can go without passing out.” Spoiler alert: I didn’t pass out. But I did feel like a total fraud in my leggings. I’d walk past other runners, and in my mind, I’d be like, “They look like actual runners. I’m just pretending.” But honestly? Who cares. I kept going.

And speaking of pretending, let’s talk about yoga. I pretend to be a Yogi ;) I’ve been doing yoga since 2012 to help manage my psoriasis (shout-out to my fellow warriors). But once my daughter got old enough to be mobile, yoga became more of a “child-who-sits-on-my-back-during-plank” experience. Seriously, I’d be doing downward dog, and she’d sit on me like she was a human weight. But you know what? That became part of the fun. Yoga was my anchor, the thing that kept me sane. And I couldn’t stop just because I had a little (okay, lot) of extra weight. So I kept practicing, and surprisingly, those days turned into moments where I could be proud of what I was doing for myself, even when it looked more like a circus than a zen practice.

The turning point? I hit 69 kg. My clothes were literally starting to fall off me, and I was like, “Wait, this is actually working!” It wasn’t just about numbers anymore—it was about feeling comfortable in my own skin. I wasn’t so heavy, I wasn’t so self-conscious every time I looked in the mirror. It wasn’t about being skinny, it was about being me, in a version of myself that felt better. I could see it in my reflection, I could feel it in my body, and I could hear it in the compliments. But more than anything, I was starting to trust myself again. I was learning that weight loss is really just about math. Calories in, calories out. (Can we just take a moment for how simple—and annoying—that is?)

By January 2020, I had lost 30 kg. 30. It didn’t feel like some overnight miracle, and there were definitely days I wanted to quit (hello, pizza). But it felt like a huge victory, and I’m still so proud of it. I wasn’t just lighter. I was stronger, more balanced, and—dare I say it?—happier. Like, genuinely happy.

Of course, life didn’t stop after that. After experiencing a burnout, I gained some weight back (thanks, menopause). But here’s the thing: I’m not mad at it. Life happens. But the difference now is that I know how to get back on track. Right now, I’m training for a 10K. I’m tracking my steps. I’ve learned to take things one day at a time. And I still believe I’ll hit my goal weight of 52 kg. It’s not about perfection—it’s about consistency.

And the best part? I’m not that awkward person walking in leggings anymore. I’m someone who’s learned to love herself at every stage of this journey, whether I’m running a 10K or just walking to the canal. So here’s to progress, not perfection. And here’s to being a work in progress... and feeling damn good about it.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, I can honestly say that this journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s been so worth it. It’s not just about the weight I lost, but about the confidence I gained, the lessons I learned, and the joy I rediscovered in doing things for myself. Sure, there were tough days, moments when I doubted myself, and plenty of setbacks, but I’ve come to realize that this is my journey—and it’s mine to own. We all go through different seasons in life, and sometimes it’s not about how fast we get to our goals, but about embracing every step, no matter how slow it feels. And right now, I’m just grateful for where I am, because it’s so much more than a number on a scale.

So, to all the amazing people reading this—what’s YOUR journey? Maybe you’re in the middle of a transformation or just starting out. Maybe it’s not about weight loss, but about something else that’s been calling to you. What’s one small step you’re going to take today to get closer to the version of you that you know is waiting? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s cheer each other on. ❤️ -Fabi