As a plus-size kid, Kayla Lavende lived vicariously by way of Barbie.
Her dad and mom would reward her a doll each week as a reward for coping with her rapid weight gain.
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Kayla shares her weight reduction journey
Regardless of tipping the scales at 155kg at her heaviest, she by no means let her dimension XXXXL cease her from dressing like her favorite doll.
However she knew she wanted to get on prime of her weight as soon as and for all after a “mortifying” expertise the place she was unable to strap herself into her seat on a airplane.
And so the now-37-year-old, from Sydney however now lives in Las Vegas, slimmed all the way down to a dimension small after shedding an astonishing 92kg and as much as 11 costume sizes following gastric sleeve surgical procedure.
“I’ve yo-yo dieted my entire life – however I made the selection to vary my life-style ceaselessly after a really uncomfortable airplane trip the place I wanted two seats and a seatbelt extender,” she tells 7Life.
Her dad and mom tried every thing conceivable to assist Kayla after they seen her speedy weight acquire as a baby.
“I used to be all the time on the docs, dietitians, nutritionists … making an attempt to determine why I used to be so chubby at such a younger age,” she says.
“In order a reward for having to cope with all that, my dad and mom purchased me a Barbie each single week as a result of I simply liked her and every thing about her type.
Rising up as a plus-size child, I needed to put on plus-size girls garments so I lived vicariously by way of Barbie – Kayla Lavende
“Rising up as a plus-size child within the ‘90s, I needed to put on plus-size girls’ garments – there weren’t many enjoyable choices so I lived vicariously by way of Barbie. She impressed me to begin getting artistic and making my very own outfits.
“I really like that Barbie says ‘you may be something’ – so I assumed, I may be something too.”
As an grownup, Kayla – who wore sizes 26 to twenty-eight garments – discovered herself ravenous all through the day earlier than bingeing on unhealthy meals earlier than bedtime.
“I labored lengthy hours and would go with out consuming in the course of the day,” she tells 7Life.
“It wasn’t till late at night time after I would get house from work I’d be ravenous and I’d bask in both quick meals or pasta and go proper to sleep.”
‘I really like that Barbie says ‘you may be something’ – so I assumed, I may be something too’ – Kayla Lavende
Her turning level got here in 2018 when she turned to gastric sleeve surgical procedure the place she had 80 per cent of her abdomen eliminated.
“After the surgical procedure, I felt excited and like a model new lady with the recent begin that I wanted. I had a whole lot of psychological readability,” she says.
“However I knew that was not the be-all and end-all. I knew I needed to change my entire life-style. Clearly due to the surgical procedure, my parts have been rather a lot smaller nevertheless I realized all about vitamin and what my physique wanted versus what I needed.”
She realized gasoline her physique with wholesome, nutritious meals.
“I eradicated carbs, sugar and processed meals. I included larger protein meals and meal prepped,” she mentioned.
“I additionally began understanding on daily basis. First off it began with strolling then progress to jogging now I begin each morning with a jog. I’ve additionally began incorporating weight coaching.”
Following surgical procedure, it took her two years to lose 92kg. She later had the surplus pores and skin eliminated round her pores and skin.
Kayla’s wholesome day on a plate
Breakfast: Protein shake each morning
Morning snack: Uncooked unsalted almonds
Lunch: Season floor turkey breast or hen
Afternoon snack: Nuts or a protein bar
Dinner: Often the identical as lunch
Kayla says she now follows a more healthy food regimen – and she or he not treats herself to her “responsible pleasures”.
“My favorite factor to do is freeze my protein shake and eat it like ice cream,” she explains.
“If I’m craving sweets I’ll have a protein cookie or protein chocolate bar – by no means the same old sugar stuffed sweets.”
Her fast and efficient train routine is “operating for one minute then strolling for one minute”.
“Repeat this for 20 to half-hour – this positively will get your coronary heart price up and transferring and you’ll be sweating very quickly. I do that on daily basis and weight coaching thrice per week,” she says.
Reflecting again at outdated footage, Kayla says she feels “proud” of herself.
“I’m so pleased with the lady within the ‘earlier than’ footage as a result of she is who has acquired me to the place I’m at the moment,” she says.
As for her vogue, Kayla – who now wears sizes six to eight – nonetheless will get her inspiration from her favorite childhood doll.
“I’ve all the time stayed true to my type – going from a Barbie dimension 4XL to a dimension small – whereas reworking my physique,” she tells 7Life.
“Barbie influenced me to begin jazzing up my very own outfits. From jazzing up my very own outfits, I began to make my very own outfits. I by no means let my dimension maintain me again from dressing vivid, vibrant and vibrant.
“Quick ahead to after I grew to become an grownup, I moved to Las Vegas the place I began working as a dressing up designer. Actually, I’ve Barbie to thank for all of it.”
‘Actually, I’ve Barbie to thank for all of it’ – Kayla Lavende
For anybody struggling to drop a few pounds, Kayla says she “extremely recommends wanting into weight reduction surgical procedure”.
“It’s not a straightforward repair – you continue to must put the work in,” she says.
“I’d additionally say to anyone on a weight reduction journey that consistency is essential and don’t give attention to a quantity on the size, give attention to being constant.”