I’m a mum-of-three and lost 26kg in FIVE months after hitting rock bottom – and used no ‘shortcuts’

A young mum has revealed how she shed an incredible 26kg after struggling to keep up with her children, admitting she was ‘just trying to get through the day’ before deciding to make a change.

Mum-of-three Ellie Pritchard, from Queensland, said her weight loss journey began when she realised she wasn’t truly present in her kids’ lives – and she went from 102kg to 76kg in just five months.

‘The moment I realised I needed to make a change was when I found myself unable to keep up with my kids each day,’ the 29-year-old told FEMAIL.

‘I had no energy, and instead of truly enjoying those little moments with them, I was just trying to get through the day.’

Determined to reclaim her health, Ellie adopted a sustainable approach to weight loss, swapping extreme diets for a balanced lifestyle that fit into her busy routine.

With three young children, carving out time for herself wasn’t easy, but Ellie made it work by incorporating fitness into her daily life – and relying on YouFoodz microwave meals for nutrition.

‘It was tricky at first because the days are so full-on with little ones, but I realised I had to make it work in a way that suited our routine,’ she explained.

‘I got better at getting up a little earlier to do a quick workout, or I made sure to include my kids by exercising outside with them.’

The results were life-changing.

‘Losing weight has given me so much more energy, and I find everything in my day-to-day life so much easier,’ she said.

‘Keeping up with my kids feels natural now, rather than exhausting, and even the small, mundane tasks that used to feel like such a challenge no longer weigh me down.’

Unlike many trendy weight-loss plans, Ellie knew extreme diets wouldn’t work for her in the long run.

‘I needed something sustainable that fit into my lifestyle as a busy mum,’ she said.

‘I focused on realistic changes: prioritising protein, making healthier choices without restriction, and finding exercise that I actually enjoyed.

‘There’s such a toxic diet culture out there, and with social media, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking, ‘I have to workout every single day to lose weight’ or ‘I have to cut these food groups out to lose weight’.

‘But once you shift your mindset away from that, you realise it’s actually pretty simple – move your body in a way that feels good for you and eat wholesome, healthy foods that you enjoy, without restriction or punishment.’

She found that consistency, rather than perfection, was the key to long-term success.

‘I stopped putting pressure on myself to eat ‘perfectly’ or work out every day and just focused on making better choices more often than not,’ she explained.

Ellie also embraced ready-made meals to make life easier, particularly on hectic days when cooking felt impossible.

‘Mum guilt is real! But I quickly realised that looking after myself actually makes me a better mum,’ she said.

‘Some nights, I just don’t have the time or energy to cook, and that’s okay. Having meals in the fridge takes the pressure off and means I still get a nutritious, balanced meal without the stress.’

Despite her dramatic transformation, Ellie didn’t completely cut out the foods she loved.

‘I have the biggest sweet tooth, and one of my biggest struggles before this journey was binge eating in the evenings,’ she admitted.

‘I’ve learnt that restricting myself from certain foods only backfires, so instead of cutting them out completely, I just focus on being mindful of how much I’m eating.’

She also refused to give up her daily iced latte, opting for a lower-calorie alternative instead.

‘I didn’t want to give up my daily iced latte, but I did stop adding caramel syrup after realising how much sugar was in it. Luckily, I found an alternative I love in the iced oat caramel latte – it has only 73 calories!’

Her typical day of eating includes a protein-packed yoghurt bowl with frozen berries for breakfast, high-protein snacks like jerky or a protein bar, and a quick, convenient meal for lunch.

‘I’m definitely a creature of habit when it comes to breakfast – I’ve been making the same meal every morning for months, and I genuinely look forward to it,’ she said.

For Ellie, staying motivated was one of the biggest challenges – especially when it came to avoiding emotional eating.

‘In the beginning, getting up for a 6km walk before the kids were awake was purely a discipline thing – it wasn’t always easy, but I knew it had to be done,’ she said.

She kept herself accountable by listening to podcasts and music while walking and focusing on the feeling she’d get after a workout.

‘Eventually, it stopped feeling like a chore and became something I actually looked forward to.’

The mum tried her best to push through with low energy levels.

‘When you’re exhausted, it’s hard to see yourself on the other side, and emotional eating was definitely something I struggled with,’ she said.

To overcome these hurdles, Ellie found healthier options for the foods she previously considered staples.

‘Who thought I’d be able to eat a creamy Parmesan chicken for under 400 calories? 

‘I found a good supplement that also really helped, and I started enjoying teas that gave me a little boost and something soothing to look forward to.’

Now, having lost 26kg, Ellie is focused on maintaining her health rather than chasing a number on the scale.

‘This has been a complete lifestyle change, and I know I’ll continue eating the way I have been because I genuinely enjoy it and have seen the benefits,’ she said.

Her advice for other mums is simple: ‘Be kind to yourself. You don’t have to do everything perfectly – just start small.’

She added, ‘Focus on what makes you feel good, not just what the scales say. And don’t be afraid to make things easier for yourself – whether that’s quick workouts, ready-made meals, or simple food swaps.

‘Consistency over perfection is what makes the difference.’