Seventeen years ago, I spearheaded a media campaign to help people on the Fraser Coast to lose weight and get fit. Since then, there have been few bumps in the road and I’ve gain a few unwanted kilos. Now I’m on a mission to regain my healthy lifestyle and the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet is my plan of attack. It’s based on scientific evidence and it’s flexible enough to fit into my busy lifestyle. Plus, I’d love to hear from you about your own experiences – feel free to leave a comment below!

I’m on a mission to regain my healthy lifestyle

In 2005, health services across the Fraser Coast were feeling the weight of a serious obesity problem, so the region’s newspaper joined forces with the district health service to launch a weight-loss campaign.

Titled Get it Off with the Chronicle, the year-long campaign included hundreds of features and articles written in consultation with leading experts to encourage “tubbies” to eat better and exercise more.

Maryborough and Hervey Bay chambers of commerce also came on board.

Editor Nancy Bates assigned me, arguably one of the fittest and healthiest Fraser Coast Chronicle journalists of the day, to champion the cause.

It was a valiant effort by everyone involved, but the lasting impact it had locally is unclear. What is known, however, is that 17 years later, obesity rates worldwide continue to soar.

World Health Organisation statistics published in June 2021 show obesity has nearly tripled since 1975.

In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 650 million were obese.
39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2016, and 13% were obese.
Most of the world’s population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.
39 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2020.
Over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016.
Obesity is preventable.Source: World Health Organisation

Research also shows that illnesses brought on by obesity – stroke, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc – are preventable.

I have to admit that I too am not as fit and healthy as I was in 2005.

Jocelyn, 2007

A few of life’s curveballs have thrown me off course, but my stance on living a healthy lifestyle is as strong as ever and I’m determined to get back on track.

That’s why I’ve joined the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet and plan to lose at least eight kilograms over the 12-week program.

In documenting my journey, my plan is to follow up the Get it Off campaign with current stories and information to encourage others to live healthier lifestyles.

And what better way than with the help of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing program?

It’s easy to follow and fits perfectly into most people’s lifestyles.

Plus, their recipes are delicious! Today is Day One. Are you with me?

**I’m a proud affiliate of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, so if you sign up for the program by clicking on one of the CSIRO links on this website, then I’ll receive a little something in return. It’s how this awesome affiliate program works – win-win!**

CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet – Day 1

Why choose the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet?

The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet is a high-protein, low-fat diet that’s packed with whole foods and has only moderate amounts of low GI carbohydrates.

This guide helps you eat less without feeling hungry, providing an easy-to-follow plan that includes all of the necessary vitamins and nutrients for good health.

First published by Penguin in May 2005 (five months after Get It Off with the Chronicle was launched), it is now one of Australia’s best-selling diet and lifestyle plans with more than a million copies sold.

The first book was a sensation, and since then several more books have been published.

They include the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet Book 2, which introduces a new exercise program, the Diet Recipe Book, Fast and Fresh Recipes, Recipes on a Budget, and the Complete Recipe Collection.

The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet is also online with thousands of recipes, flexible meal plans, and online tools to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

To join the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet online, it costs $199 (AUD) for the 12 Week Program or $299 for the 12 Week Program with Coaching. Refunds upon successful completion are available (conditions apply).

Optional extras include two coaching sessions, a women’s health and nutrition guide, a resistance band, and the recipe collection.

I’ve chosen the 12-Week Program with Coaching.

After joining the program

When you join the CSIRO Total Wellbeing program, you get exclusive access to delicious meal plans, recipes, tutorials, and digital tools, to help you lose weight while improving your diet.

After joining and setting up my profile today, Tuesday 1 November, I was relieved to find out I had two days in which to prepare for starting the diet on Wednesday. That gives me time to review the week’s recipes and go shopping tomorrow.

I was also able to choose my preferred program – the standard 12 Week Program. It’s a higher protein, low GI diet designed for maximum weight loss and appetite control.

For people with diagnosed health conditions, there are several options from which they can choose – High Blood Pressure, High cholesterol, Joint Pain, and Type 2 Diabetes/Prediabetes.

Then there’s the Meal Plan. The online program pre-selected the Protein Balance Boost plan for me. It’s a higher protein menu with protein evenly spread across the day to help boost my mood and wellbeing.

Simple and delicious meals following our much-loved higher protein menu plan with protein evenly spread across the day to help boost your mood and wellbeing. If I wish, I can swap meals to suit my food, lifestyle, or seasonal preferences.

Other meal plan options include Simple, Protein Balance Power, Protein Balance Plus, Protein Balance Basic, Protein Balance, Gut Health, Total Wellbeing, Freedom, Gluten Free, and Diabetes.

I registered my starting weight at 68.6 kg with my goal to be 60 kg by the end of the 12 Week Program. That would be a loss of 8.6kg. However, the AI coach estimated I could comfortably lose 6.7kg if I was super-focused and diligently followed the program for the 12 weeks.

That means I’ve already overestimated what’s possible! Time will tell!

To give me the best chance of achieving my goal, the AI coach recommended I follow the meal plan, track my food and drinks, and weighed myself weekly.

If you’re interested in the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet and are keen to follow my progress, click here to follow my foodie journey on the CSIRO program.