'SELF-DESTRUCT OLYMPICS'
Mum-of-two shares ‘glow up secrets’ after ‘ditching her old lady body’ to become ripped at 51
Billie Steele reveals her top diet tips and how often she goes to the gym
A MUM ditched her "old lady body" to become super fit aged 51.
Billie Steele started struggling with her weight after her second child and soon tipped the scales at 13st 5lbs and a size 16.
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She managed to lose the weight but found herself gaining it again about a decade later after becoming perimenopausal.
Aged 48, she reached 12st 9lbs and a size 14.
Billie battled with depression, drinking and her diet for three years but eventually realised the "burden" her health could be on her two children.
She hit the gym, overhauled her diet and turned her life around to become a ripped 51-year-old.
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Billie, a personal trainer from New South Wales, Australia, said: "I can't believe what I looked like.
"I was in the self-destruct Olympics. I felt disgusting but now I feel physically stronger.
"Everything about my body is better than it's ever been. My memory is sharper. I have better flexibility.
"Everything is amazing. I love a good glow up."
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Billie worked hard to lose 4st 7lbs after gaining weight following the birth of her son Gus, now 17.
But 13 years later, it started to creep back on.
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"Around age 48 I started to experience perimenopause and I started to stick on all this weight," she said.
"I got really depressed and anxious. It just got out of control."
The weight gain took a toll on the mum's mental health and she spent 21 days in rehab for depression.
Billie isolated herself from her friends and family and even stopped talking to her daughter, Grace, 25.
"I was drinking. I felt like an idiot," she said.
When the pandemic hit, Billie continued to spiral and it wasn't until her doctor told her she was pre-diabetic that she knew she had to change.
"I just imagined being a burden on my children and I felt really ashamed," she said. "I did it all to myself."
Billie switched up her diet and now makes an effort to cook dinner from scratch at home every day.
I feel like it's not even me when I look in the mirror. It's like I'm looking at a stranger
Billie Steele
She said: "I stopped ordering Uber Eats. I stopped drinking beer every single night."
Billie's daughter spotted her local gym had a 12-week challenge on and encouraged her to sign up.
"I felt like all the meat had been torn off my bones," she said.
"I felt like a kid again - I had to parent and teach myself how to do everything once more."
Billie's diet and workout tips
DIET
- She cooks at home, from scratch, as much as possible
- She eats plenty of protein
- She focuses on wholefoods
- She stopped drinking alcohol
FITNESS
- She goes to the gym four days a week for resistance training (e.g. dumbbells, bands, weight machines)
- She runs three days a week
- She walks 10,000 steps a day
Billie is now a slender 9st 2lbs and a size eight. Looking back at old photos, she can barely recognise herself.
"I feel like it's not even me," she said. "It feels like I'm looking at a stranger.
"That woman finally got her s*** together. She got us to where we are today.
"I was hating on the person I used to be. Now I'm grateful she made that decision to want more for herself."
Billie hits the gym four days a week for resistance training, runs three days a week and walks 10,000 steps a day.
She eats home-cooked protein rich wholefoods and avoids alcohol.
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"I'm happier and more at peace," she said.
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How to lose weight safely
Losing weight should be a long-term commitment to healthier living, rather than any drastic measures.
The NHS tips - which can be adopted slowly - include:
- Get active for 150 minutes a week – you can break this up into shorter sessions
- Aim to get your 5 A Day – 80g of fresh, canned or frozen fruit or vegetables count as 1 portion
- Aim to lose 1 to 2lbs, or 0.5 to 1kg, a week
- Read food labels – products with more green colour coding than amber and red are often a healthier option
- Swap sugary drinks for water – if you do not like the taste, add slices of lemon or lime for flavour
- Cut down on food that's high in sugar and fat – start by swapping sugary cereal for wholegrain alternatives
- Share your weight loss plan with someone you trust – they can help motivate you when you have a bad day
Read about:
- The five fat loss foundations
- The calorie formula for weight loss
- The perfect portion sizes for meals to lose weight
- Sun Health's 8-week weight loss kick start plan