Australian Idol winner Kate DeAraugo reveals the details of her dramatic 60kg weight loss and she she almost halved her body weight.
Kate weighed in at 125kg at her heaviest, until she went under the knife to have a gastric sleeve fitted in what can only be described as life-saving surgery, and now, at 65kgs she has dropped to almost half her previous weight.
Seventy-five per cent of her stomach was removed in the non-reversible procedure, which means she can barely eat a cup of food at any one time.
Kate admits it hasn’t been easy and she’s still adjusting.
In pictures: Kate DeAraugo’s amazing body transformation
“It’s still hard. I still have days where I think, ‘Damn, I wish I could pig out!'” she says.
“There are moments when I go out to dinner with my boyfriend and he orders a big chicken parmigiana with gravy, but then I look at myself and the fact I’ve lost 60kg and I wouldn’t take it back, even if I could.”
Luckily for Kate, she still gets to enjoy the foods she loves – but she can no longer binge on them and has them in moderation.
“I can still have chocolate. The other night I really, really wanted a pizza so I got one – but I only ate one piece.”
Kate’s day on a plate
Kate can only eat small portions, no more than about ¾ to 1 cup at a time.
- Breakfast: Porridge
- Morning tea: Cucumber
- Lunch: ?½ sandwich
- Afternoon tea: Small portion fruit
- Dinner: Steak and Veg
Gastric sleeve vs gastric bands – What’s the difference?
A sleeve gastrectomy involves the removal of two-thirds of the stomach. It is non-reversible and costs $4300 with private health insurance.
Laparoscopic gastric banding (a gastric band) involves placing a band around the top of the stomach to make the wearer feel full. It is reversible and costs around $4200 with private health insurance.
Both procedures make recipients eat less, resulting in weight loss. If you have a BMI over 35 (with added complications), you could be eligible to have your procedure covered by Medicare.
Reflecting on her transformational journey, Kate says:
“I’ve realised that being thin doesn’t make you happy, but losing the weight has given me my confidence back.
“I’m no longer avoiding the world… I’m happy for the first time in a really long time and I look forward to every day.”
Always consult a doctor or professional before starting anything new
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