Big healthy smiles say it all

By Sarah Schwager
TWELVE weeks ago, Star Makeover winner Colleen Tancredi said a combination of having children, a busy schedule, not exercising and a recent operation had led to a downfall in her health and weight.
“Staying slim doesn’t come naturally to me,” she said at the start of the competition.
“I have to be really aware of my weight. When you’ve got kids there’s always other things to do.”
Since then, readers have watched as she has done a complete turnaround, both physically and mentally.
Colleen said the biggest change she had seen in herself was her attitude towards eating, exercising and staying healthy.
She said her husband, David, and children, Anthony and Rose, could not have been more proud.
“David is just happy that I am feeling better, both physically and within myself.
“The other day he said to me ‘I can see your bone there. You’ve got rid of your bumps and lumps’.”
Colleen said while she was impressed with the weight she had managed to lose in 12 weeks, she was glad she had done it the healthy way.
“I don’t drink Diet Coke any more or coffee. Now I don’t get any more headaches and the bloating is gone.
“I used to allow Anthony to drink (Coke). I thought it was hypocritical if I was drinking it. Now it’s not even kept in the fridge.”
She said now the kids would see her eating her vegies and ask if they could try some as well.
“Most of it they do like, especially when they can see I’m enjoying it.”
Colleen said when she first started training, the weight loss was very slow.
“That was hard to come to terms with. I’d never done so much exercise and I was eating so well but I guess my metabolism was just so slow.”
She said the first aches and pains from training were quickly relieved after she began massage and treatments at Remedial Dermal Clinic.
“Before, I could feel every muscle in my body,” she said.
“Now I can’t wait every morning to get on the scales.
“I feel so much better. Previously I had got into a slump. There wasn’t much happening at all.
“You can always make excuses, kids, work, but you are the only one who will suffer.”
Colleen said she had found it very difficult to lose weight after having two kids.
“It feels selfish and indulgent to exercise or get a massage when you have kids.”
Colleen said a lot of people had followed her progress and commented on how lucky she was to have won the makeover.
“I do feel very fortunate but there are still a lot of things you can do yourself.”
She said she would definitely continue on with the personal training.
As her last part of the package, clothing store Sussans at Fountain Gate gave her a full wardrobe to show off her new figure.
“Trying on clothes felt unreal. I couldn’t believe everything fit,” she said.
Colleen said she would now take a couple of weeks rest to properly recover from her cold but then she would be back into her exercise routine.
“I’ll still do as much as I can. I’m at a good size now. If I lose a couple more kilos it will be a bonus but it might take a bit longer.
“And if I ever want a pamper I’ll know where to go.
“All the services are in my local area and were lovely to deal with.”