'I stocked a year's worth of hot cross buns in my freezer': Chef, 33, drops SIX dress sizes to become a bikini bodybuilder after overcoming a junk food addiction
- An Australian chef lived off an unhealthy diet of processed foods and alcohol
- Sarah Cracknell who tipped the scales at 89.8kg, wore size 16 and 18 clothing
- She was determined to lose weight after she struggled to fit into wedding dress
- The 33-year-old shed 34.9kg - and went on to become a bikini bodybuilder
- The fitness instructor said there's no secret to her incredible weight loss
A chef who lived off an unhealthy diet of processed foods and alcohol has transformed herself into a bikini bodybuilder after losing 34.9kg.
Sarah Cracknell who tipped the scales at 89.8kg at her heaviest, wore size 16 and 18 clothing - and she assumed her pants were just shrinking in the dryer.
As a chef working in the industry for 18 years, Sarah - who stocked a year's worth of hot cross buns in her freezer - would binge on large portions of processed foods and keep a fridge full of soft drinks and booze.
But her turning point came when the 33-year-old, from Perth, was determined to lose weight once and for all after she struggled to fit into her wedding dress.
From there, she made a drastic lifestyle overhaul that saw her banish her tummy to get the toned figure for the stage after dropping six dress sizes.
Sarah Cracknell (pictured) transformed herself into a bikini bodybuilder after losing 34.9kg
Her turning point came when the 33-year-old chef (pictured with her husband before her weight loss) was determined to lose weight after she struggled to fit into her wedding dress
She embarked on a weight loss journey where she shed 34.9kg just in time for her wedding in April 2012
'I was a very negative person before; I drank quite heavily, I had no self-esteem and felt trapped beneath a baggy jumper. Now I have an entirely different outlook on life,' she said.
She initially changed her diet and exercised to lose weight for her big day, but she discovered how good she felt about herself from the weight loss that she decided to continue her fitness journey.
Sarah said her weight spiralled out of control when she entered the food industry.
'When I started cooking, I grew up pretty fast. Most of the chefs I worked with were a lot older than me and most days after work I would hang out at a pub with them,' she said.
'I never focused on my weight or looks growing up, so I was basically in denial about getting bigger. I figured my pants must keep shrinking in the dryer.
'I once tried to stock a year's worth of hot cross buns in my freezer. My diet was mostly processed food. You'd always find packet pasta and corn chips in my house, and a fridge full of soft drink and booze.'
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Her weight reached its peak just before her wedding in April 2012 and when she was at home trying on her dresses, she would cry every time, after realising how big she had gotten.
'Two things made me realise just how big I had gotten; wedding dress shopping and trying to get dressed for a friend's engagement party and I didn't fit in any of my clothes,' Sarah said.
'Both these events had me in tears and it really sunk in that I was about to have to go and buy size 18 clothes if I didn't get my act together.'
After slimming down to an incredible size 6, Sarah took part in her gym photoshoot (pictured)
Before her weight loss: Her weight reached its peak when she struggled to fit into her wedding gown and she would cry every time, after realising how big she had gotten
The now 33-year-old went on to get washboard abs after tweaking her diet and exercising
During her weight struggles, Sarah said she would be out of breath from walking up steps
She said she would be out of breath doing simple tasks such as walking up steps.
'Then after that had been and gone, I wanted to feel good about myself and be fit and healthy. I would get tired very easily and walking up steps was a nightmare,' she said.
'I'd drive around the car park at the shops looking for the closest parking bay so I wouldn't have to walk too far.
'I wanted to be able to go out for bushwalks again which is something I always enjoyed with friends and hadn't been able to do for a long time.'
She decided to tweak her diet by having weight loss shakes and soup.
'This left me with zero energy and motivation. But once I joined a gym and started working with a nutritionist, losing weight became enjoyable,' she said.
'I'd never had so much energy. My nutritionist would work on one habit at a time and helped me change my bad habits, my mindset and my entire outlook on life.
'We prioritised protein and lots of veg and added in a lot of carbs and healthy fats too. The better I started to feel about myself the less I felt like drinking.'
She said she used to feel too insecure to wear bikinis before she entered the competitions, but since losing weight she mustered up the courage to try bodybuilding
Since her diet overhaul and work outs, Sarah - who slimmed down to 56.2kg for the stage - entered into bodybuilding competitions where she has come in first place
Sarah - who now weighs 65.3 kilos and wear size 10 clothing - said she now feels happier more than ever - and her home now consists of healthy foods
Since her diet overhaul and work outs, Sarah - who slimmed down to 56.2kg for the stage - entered into bodybuilding competitions where she has come in first place, second place and third place.
She said she used to feel too insecure to wear bikinis before she entered the competitions, but since losing weight she mustered up the courage to try it out.
'I had done a photoshoot at my gym; my nutritionist told me in one of my measures that another girl at the gym was about to prep for a competition and we'd make good training buddies,' Sarah said.
'I had no idea what a bodybuilding show was at this stage, so I went and watched one and thought that I'd like to give it a go.
'I'd never worn a bikini in public and yet here I was training to wear one on stage. I entered four categories and was placed in all of them; taking home first place in fitness model novice, third in fitness first timers, fifth in sports model first timers and second in sports model novice.
'I find the good in every situation. After going through the transformation, and changing my life, it makes you realise that nothing is impossible.
'It's given me the strength and confidence that I never knew I had. I've made some incredible friendships with like-minded people.
'Everyone at my gym unconditionally supports each other to help each other reach their goals. It's an incredible community full of people working together to a common goal.'
After participating in a photoshoot at her gym, her nutritionist recommended bodybuilding to her and despite never having heard of it before, she investigated and decided to try it out
She said there's no secret to her weight loss as it all comes down to being consistent
Sarah (right) managed to reduce her weight to 56.2 kilos and a size six to eight for the stage
Her new bodybuilding body has helped her with her confidence, and Sarah was shocked that she could stand on stage in front of people in a bikini, as she never used to wear bikinis
Sarah - who now weighs 65.3 kilos and wear size 10 clothing - said she now feels happier more than ever - and her home now consists of healthy foods.
'Now my fridge is full of vegetables, yoghurts, meats, and healthy fats, and my cupboard is mostly spices, rice and oils,' she said.
'I try to keep my food simple and if I want a treat I prefer to have it out of the house so there's no temptation to go back for more.
'Being surrounded by food at work was hard to begin with but once I started taking meal prep to work I didn't have to think about it so much.
'There's always a few people who want to comment on everything you're eating or not eating which can become frustrating, but I'd just brush it to the side.'
The fitness instructor said there's no secret to her incredible weight loss.
'Most people want to know the secret. Like maybe I'm hiding something. But it didn't happen overnight. It was time and consistency. No secret,' she said.
'There will never be a perfect moment; find a coach and a nutritionist who can take all the guesswork and stress out of it for you so all you have to do is show up and be consistent.
'It also keeps you accountable to someone and also builds your knowledge around making the correct choices and turning old habits around.'
