It’s not every day you come across someone with the sheer determination and resilience of Melissa Imrie Van Wyk, a single mom who embarked on a weight loss journey that would change her life.
On her one-year anniversary of this transformative experience, Melissa reflects on the hurdles, lessons, and achievements that got her to where she is today.
“When I started, I weighed 126.6 kg. I said to myself I want to get down to 80 kg, and I am proud to say I have officially done just that!” Melissa’s achievement isn’t just about the numbers on the scale; it’s about the mental and physical strength she built along the way.
Balancing her role as a single mom with such a demanding fitness journey wasn’t easy, but she had a plan. “I have a great support system. My family and friends have been the biggest support through this journey. But there has always been compromise depending on what plans work best for my family. Most of the time, my exercise is done while everyone is still sleeping.”
Her journey wasn’t without sacrifice. Melissa describes how she had to change her entire lifestyle, learning new, healthier habits and cutting back on social events. “It is not easy. It is a lot of hard work, physically and mentally. It is sacrificing your social life. It is learning to adapt to new and healthier options of eating habits and living habits in general.”
Diet played a major role in her transformation. “I slowly got into substituting unhealthy food for healthier options. Eventually, I did a strict 12-week eating program—fruit, carrots, lean mince, chicken, broccoli, and boiled eggs—allowing myself a cheat meal once every two weeks. Now I stick to fruit and substitute bread for Provita Cracker breads, setting specific times to eat. This helps me avoid binge eating.”
At first, the gym was an intimidating place. Melissa recalls feeling shy and anxious, particularly in the weights section. But despite these challenges, she persevered. “I honestly hated running long distances, as I would feel anxiety before I ran. But eventually, I found a way to make training enjoyable, and I found my love for long-distance running.”
Her journey is a testament to the power of mindset. She explains how crucial it was to overcome her excuses: “Rome wasn’t built in a day. Thus, I stopped with the excuses. When you mentally put your mind to something, you know you will physically feel better once you’ve done it.”
Of course, there were moments when she wanted to give up, especially in the second month, when she started feeling restricted from eating her favorite foods. “It’s really difficult changing from eating whatever you want, whenever you want, to having set foods and times, especially when you’ve been in those bad habits for so long. I wanted to give up many times. But knowing I was making an impact on others motivated me to keep going.”
Inspiration came from many sources—podcasts, motivational videos, and quotes—but Melissa ultimately relied on herself to reach her goals. “At this point, I was so focused on my goals that I didn’t care what I looked like or what others thought. I was the one I had to rely on to reach my goals.”
One of the most surprising parts of her transformation was how emotional it became. “I’ve struggled with my weight my whole life. I’ve been through so many diets, always starting and stopping. When I first started, someone asked me, ‘Are you on a diet?’ I said, ‘I’m trying something new,’ because I didn’t know I had the strength to lose 46 kgs. Looking at the before and afters is a massive surprise and very emotional.”
Perhaps the most compelling part of Melissa’s story is her honesty about setbacks. Her journey wasn’t linear. “I started and then I stopped. And then I had to start all over again. I went from 110.95 kg to 93.10 kg, and then I went all the way up to 126.6 kg, and now I am down to 80.6 kg.” Despite the ups and downs, she kept going—and that’s the lesson she hopes to impart to others.
Her advice to anyone starting their own journey is to take it day by day. “Be patient and know that everything you put into your journey will pay off. Find a way to make it fun, because it’s not easy, but it does get better. Set realistic goals for yourself and focus on smashing them one by one. Take before and after pictures; you don’t realize how far you’ve come until you compare them. Keep showing up, and remind yourself that anything is possible!”
As Melissa looks forward, she’s excited to tackle new challenges and continue pushing herself, both in the gym and in life. “You are your biggest challenge. I love a challenge, and honestly, this journey has been challenging in so many different ways—good and bad—but the trick is to keep going.”
