5 days ago
How an Aussie mum lost 11kg in 8 weeks with an affordable family-friendly program
If your diet journey has hit a standstill and no amount of working out seems to make a lasting difference, it might be time to turn to the professionals.
But fear not, that doesn't have to mean extreme gym schedules or flavourless meals, because there are expert-led programs who promote a much more achieveable (and enjoyable) approach to health and fitness.
Think simple yet tasty meals, short workouts and daily walks, all with the help of one easy-to-use app to track and maintain your progress.
An Aussie mum, Monique, managed to lose an impressive 11kgs in just eight weeks, all by following a PT-certified '8 Week Challange' from the comfort of her home.
Like many busy mums, Monique found herself snacking on 'half-healthy' foods while juggling the demands of parenting, leaving her feeling low on energy.
Her turning point came during a simple family moment: 'I realised I was avoiding being in photos with my kids. I was disappointed in how I looked and felt. That's when I knew something had to change,' Monique tells Best Picks.
Monique's journey didn't begin with crash diets or complicated gym routines. Instead, she turned to the 28 by Sam Wood app — a platform she'd used in the past but hadn't committed to. This time, she made it work for her whole household.
'I stopped snacking all day and started eating proper meals filled with protein, veggies, and good fats. My daughter even started picking meals from the app — and that's when it clicked. We could do this together.'
In the 8-Week Challenge, Monique lost 11.1kg — going from 61kg to 50kg — purely through simple meals, short workouts, and daily walks. 'The 10-minute HIIT sessions with Anna and DanceFit with the kids became our new normal.'
She now swears by a 'less is more' approach. 'You don't need fancy food or long workouts. You just need something realistic — something that fits your life.'
Monique has since been 28 by Sam Wood's 8-Week Challenge winner where she received $5,000 for the most incredible transformation.
'I'm excited with my prize because the challenge has inspired me to invest it back into my health,' she says.
'I am looking to purchase, a medical grade air purifier, a sleep monitoring ring, and a membership to a longevity clinic to check out all the biohacking, anti-aging, and health promoting treatments they have'.
Her advice to others starting out?
'Start small. Eat real food. Get your family on board. It doesn't have to be perfect — just consistent.'
As for how she feels now? ' Energised, clear-headed, and proud. I'm no longer running on sugar spikes. I actually want to move my body.'
The 28 by Sam Wood app is home to plenty of delicious recipes that are full of fresh flavours, and easy to prep and cook in your own kitchen.
A typical day on a plate for Monique looks a little like this:
Breakfast: Almond milk coffee with collagen protein; sometimes a breakfast shakshuka or bacon, eggs, zucchini, avocado, and sweet potato fries.
Lunch: 28 Lamb Stir Fry loaded with veggies or homemade burrito bowls.
Dinner: Sam's Satay (a family favourite!) or other meals from the 28 app.
Snacks: Very minimal — the 28 meals keep me full.
Tried & Tested
Best Picks Acting Commerical Editor took the 28 app for a spin — here are her honest thoughts.
The issue I'm often up against when it comes to kickstarting a healthy routine is lacking motivation and consistency, allowing myself way too many 'cheat days'. But having access to an app to track my progress helped to hold myself accountable and a reminder that you can still have delicious food in a balanced diet.
While I'm not the most tech-savvy person, I found the app itself so user-friendly, easy to navigate between movement and meals and the automatic notifications give me a gentle nudge to make some time in my day to put my wellbeing first.
I tend to seek out yoga and pilates workouts, but I was surprised at how much I've enjoyed more cardio-based training sessions too (hello HIIT making its way into my favourites). Across the board the instructors are super informative yet not intimidating, and keep the classes fresh and fun.
And someone with a busy nine-till-five schedule, it's been surprisingly easy to incorporate the 30 minute workouts, and the fact that I feel great after every single one is a bonus!
