How thousands of Aussie women supported one mum to lose 53kg: 'I'd tried so many things that I just gave up'

Like many Aussies, Nambucca Heads mother-of-two Cicily Goodwin is no stranger to worrying about her weight — but five years ago, she decided to dive in and commit to doing something about it.

Having gained weight after her first pregnancy with her now seven-year-old child, by the time Cicily was carrying her now five-year-old, she was unhappy with what she was seeing in the mirror.

"I just wasn't really happy with myself, but I kind of always had been overweight and not been able to lose it," Cicily tells 9Honey.

"I'd tried so many things that I just gave up."

Equipped with the support of women throughout Australia this time, however, Cicily persisted — and lost 53 kilograms, going down six dress sizes, in 18 months.

READ MORE: The medical wake-up call that spurred a Melbourne mum to lose 26kg

In large part, Cicily credits being able to lean on mums throughout Australia online who were going through the same thing as her for being able to stay strong throughout her journey.

After being added to The Healthy Mummy's private Facebook group during her second pregnancy, her goal didn't seem as daunting.

"I watched these women, these real women, transform their lives and their bodies in the space of my pregnancy," Cicily tells 9Honey.

"And I just decided, 'You know what? As soon as I have this child, I'm going to do this too.'"

READ MORE: 'I'm feeling better than I felt at 40' — Melbourne mum's lockdown transformation

Through watching regular Aussie women achieve what she always wanted to — and be honest about and supportive of each other through their setbacks — the 27-year-old started to believe in herself.

"I started to believe that this can work, and I decided to really go for it 100 per cent as soon as I could."

The week after giving birth to her second child, Cicily's weight loss journey began in true.

READ MORE: The impact of celebrity diet culture on recovering from an eating disorder

Following The Healthy Mummy meal replacement program and 28-day challenge for healthy dinner and snack recipes, Cicily also took up walking regularly for her exercise.

After 18 months, Cicily reached her goal. In the three and a half years since, her lifestyle has been about maintenance.

Being able to maintain her new normal, however, does not mean it comes without challenges.

"It's a constant battle. You're always still working on yourself and trying to get healthier and better in different ways," Cicily tells 9Honey. "So it's always adapting."

Cicily still has what she calls her "weight loss mentality," and doesn't see it going away, especially where there have been moments where she has put weight back on and has had to work hard to lose it again.

Although she has her healthy habits to fall back on, the mental challenge is still there when she gets in a rut — sometimes, if she does indulge in "junk food," she Cicily feels like a failure.

"It's definitely the mental aspect of it because [of] having a history of being unhappy with my body," Cicily says.

"You can get really doubting yourself quite easily."

READ MORE: Melbourne mum recalls husband being turned away from children's cancer ward due to COVID-19

Whenever she gets knocked down, however, her online community helps her get back up again.

"There's people on there that listen to your stories and offer you advice and support."

And if all else fails, Cicily can always rely on the more traditional incentives.

"I'll do things, create little challenges for myself," Cicily tells 9Honey.

When she reaches her goal, she'll reward herself with something that reminds her of why she's doing it in the first place — being able to feel happy with herself, being able to run around with her kids, and nurturing her mental health.

Learn more about The Healthy Mummy 12-Week Weight Loss Challenge.