A bank executive lost three dress sizes in less than six months after making her lifestyle changes.
Adele Fiene, from Wollongong, NSW, loved to ‘wine and dine’ in her twenties – but due to an equally active athletic life, weight was never an issue for her.
Watch the video above to see a personal trainer share their routine
But after first becoming a mom at age 30, the weight started to add up after she was no longer able to exercise due to an injury.
Take-out became his lunch options, and dinners included large portions of pasta or stir-fries – with processed carbs, whole cheeses and sauces, plus a few glasses of wine.
âOnce I hit 30, the weight gain became a problem for me,â said Adele, now 39. 7Life.
After struggling to adjust to her new work uniform, the mum-of-three – who weighed 86.6 kilograms and wore size 16 clothes – knew she had to overcome her poor eating habits to be healthy.
In just 22 weeks, she’s slimmed down to a size 10 after losing 20 pounds.
Before the transformation of the body
Adele says her weight gain started after giving birth to her first child.
âBefore I became pregnant, socializing was an integral part of my life. I was extremely active, played several sports a week, ran regularly and slept a lot, âshe says.
âBut after I had my first child, my physical activity declined and food was still on the run and I made bad choices.
âTake out was my choice, especially for lunch. I enjoyed the pizza, the Chinese, the pasta and the curries. Breakfast was limited, maybe toast if I had time. Dinner was always large portions.

As an avid baker and cook, the mom says she found herself regularly munching on baked goodies.
âI love to cook and cook with my kids on weekends. But before we lost weight, we would bake muffins, cupcakes, cookies and other sweet treats, and we never failed to lick the bowl, âshe says.
Adele says she completely stopped exercising after injuring her knee.
âI played netball until I slipped my knee. Since I stopped playing sports and running, the weight has increased, âshe says.
The tipping point
After her third baby, she decided to take charge of her health.
âI wanted to go back to work and fit comfortably in my new uniform at a size 14. Before pregnancy, I was considering ordering a size 16 in the work uniform because the 14 was tight,â she recalls.
âWhile I was at home with my new baby, I researched different diets. “
She discovered CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet – a scientifically formulated weight loss program that focuses on a high protein, low GI meal plan developed by scientists at the Australian National Science Agency.
Watch the video below to learn more about the program
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Offering a sustainable approach to healthy weight loss, the diet claims to reduce cravings by focusing on high protein, low GI foods that keep you full for longer.
âI started in May 2019 and felt like it was easy to follow. I loved that you can have indulgences while losing weight, âshe says.
Adele says she started her weight loss journey by “making little, healthier choices.”


âI started by cutting back on alcohol, drinking lots of water, and opting for better snack options,â she says.
âI have also acquired better habits in planning and preparing meals. I followed a meal plan and spent every Sunday shopping and then preparing meals for the week. That then left me the rest of the week and kept me on track.
“I also went through the exercise program which was very similar to what I did with my physiotherapist and suited my injury well.”
In less than six months, her weight dropped to 66.6 kilograms.
Typical day on a plate
Breakfast: Ricotta cheese on high protein bread with canned peaches and a pinch of cinnamon and a skimmed latte
Breakfast: Nicoise tuna salad and high protein yogurt with red fruits
Having dinner: Soy Salmon with Snow Pea Salad
Snacks: Vegetable sticks, diet jelly or air popcorn
Life after weight loss
Adele – who now wears clothing sizes 10 to 12 – has maintained her weight for over a year.
âI do a circuit in the gym three days a week for 40 minutes and try to take 10,000 steps a day. When I get home, I play with the kids outside to get more exercise. It all helps, âshe says.
Looking at old photos of her, mom says she feels “good”.
âPhotos are a great motivator, if I overdo it. I watch them and I know I can do it and that I am in control, âshe says.