Having her photo taken with her favourite All Black was a memorable moment for Jessica Jenkins, but it was for all the wrong reasons. Seven years ago, Jessica spotted rugby legend Christian Cullen visiting a supermarket in her hometown of Havelock North and couldn’t resist asking him for a picture. But she was horrified when she saw the result.
“I looked huge. I didn’t realise how big I was until I saw that photograph,” she says. “It was awful – I was so embarrassed.”
But there was an upside. That feeling of shame was the motivation Jessica needed to start shedding the kilos. She says she was always a chubby girl and children at school would often call her a Teletubby. “It was really hurtful and knocked my confidence,” she remembers. “I used to hide in the library and cry.”
Before: This photo with Christian Cullen (right) encouraged Jessica to begin her dramatic weight-loss journey.
Jessica (27) piled on even more weight after having her first child, Isabella, seven years ago, tipping the scales at 120kg. She suffered from gall bladder pain, which she attributed to her lack of exercise and bad diet. “I was eating fast food four times a week. My meal portions would be so huge, one dinner could have fed a whole family! I also ate when I was emotional or bored,” she explains.
Jessica had to change her diet and become more health conscious. But instead of calling an 0800 number and joining a weight-loss programme, she made up her own healthy food and exercise plan. “I cut out all fatty foods and didn’t eat between meals. I also stopped eating anything after 6.30 at night.”
Before, Jessica struggled to do one push-up and didn’t enjoy exercising. But she forced herself to walk up hills and do cross training each day. “It was hard at first, but once I got into a routine, it got a lot easier. Now I can’t go a day without doing some form of physical activity.”
Another motivation to lose the weight was Jessica’s desire to have another baby. Being overweight had made it difficult to become pregnant her first time round. Jessica has now lost a massive 65kg – going from 120kg to 55kg. And the ultimate reward for her hard work and effort? She became pregnant again, giving birth to little Ava two years ago.
Now: Jessica loves to exercise. The former size 26 mum was a beautiful size 8 bride last November.
“It was easier and quicker for me to conceive,” Jessica tells with a smile. “Also, during the pregnancy, I didn’t have back pain or low energy like before.”
There was still one more thing on her wish list – to marry her partner Aaron (26). Engaged for seven years, Jessica hadn’t wanted to walk down the aisle because of her weight. “I was a size 26 and I thought that people would laugh at me. Every woman wants to look their best on their wedding day.”
In November, Jessica finally married Aaron – in a size 8 dress – and wowed the assembled 70 family and friends at her Hawke’s Bay wedding. “For the first time in my life, I felt beautiful,” she beams. “Everyone was saying how good I looked – and for once, I believed it.”
Having two beautiful daughters, a loving husband and a healthier life have been the major benefits of Jessica’s amazing weight loss, but that’s not all. “My skin is a lot better too, and I have much more energy to spend with my children,” she says.
Jessica says she hopes her inspirational weight-loss story will encourage other men and women. “I want to show people that it’s possible to lose weight and be healthy. I never thought I would be at this point. It has changed my life.”
How she did it
Breakfast (choose ONE option)
Greek yoghurt with fresh berries and organic seeds/granola
Muesli
Low-fat yoghurt & a fruit smoothie
Lunch (choose one option)
Tuna or chicken salad
Tuna & four-bean salad with homemade dressing
½ avocado on rice crispbread with a piece of fruit
Hummus with vege sticks
Scrambled eggs & chives on toast
Couscous salad with lots of veges
Small wholegrain wrap with lots of salad, plus tuna or chicken
Dinner (ONE SMALL SERVE)
Spaghetti Bolognaise made with premium mince drained of fat. Serve on wholegrain spaghetti with a big salad on the side
Ratatouille made from homegrown veges
Chicken & vegetable stir-fry
Healthy pizza made with wraps, low-fat cheese, veges, without any salami or processed cheese
Nachos made from grilled wraps cut in triangles served with Greek yoghurt and smashed avocado.
