This article was originally published on IndeBuurt.nl
Janine Riddy (42) is a mother of two daughters and lives with her husband Nick. Three and a half years ago, she had a turning point and decided to lose weight: “I didn’t want this anymore.” She started small, with walking. But the Dutch weather held her back. She found the solution with the handy treadmills from Dreaver. “I was looking for the most accessible way to move more. Without the treadmill, I would have given up long ago.”
Dreaver is the specialist in compact treadmills for home use. The treadmills are foldable and can easily be slid under the couch. So you don’t need an expensive gym or good weather to exercise outside. Simply take it out whenever you have time.
The first step
The proverbial switch flipped for Janine when she was at Bodyworlds with her eldest daughter. “A part of that museum was about Morbid Obesity. I recognized a lot in it and found it very confronting. I thought: I don’t want this anymore. I really have to lose weight. But I also thought: where do I start?”
The first step was the general practitioner, then a dietitian. “The GP recommended a gastric bypass, but I didn’t want that. It can help some people, but it also has negative effects. I thought: ‘I’m young, I should be able to do it myself, right?’” At the dietitian, Janine was advised to limit carbohydrates among other things. She lost some weight with that, but it wasn’t enough. “Of course, adjusting your diet helps, but I wanted to keep eating ‘normally’ and not be stuck on a diet for the rest of my life.”
Getting moving
The switch flipped, so Janine literally and figuratively got moving. “I started with small goals. Besides watching my diet, I started walking. I got up every day at quarter past five to walk for an hour before work. I did that come rain or shine. After a while, my motivation dropped again,” Janine says laughing. After a short online search, she found the solution: a treadmill for home, but one that you can store away.
The key to success
“I didn’t want a huge treadmill in the living room. I find that awful! And it also costs thousands of euros. Dreaver’s treadmills easily slide under the couch and are reasonably priced. Because of that, I can walk exactly when I want and have the time for it. That turned out to be the key to success: I could walk for an hour without having to be in the cold or rain. As a mother, I also like that I can stay home with the kids. You can even watch a series at the same time. That makes it very accessible: that hour just flies by!”
From the garden room, Janine is not bothered by the bad weather | Own photo
Super accessible
Janine chose the S340 model. It is small, lightweight, has a foldable bar, and you can run up to ten kilometers per hour on it. “What I like most is that it has wheels underneath, so I can effortlessly slide it under the couch. That way, it’s never in the way. Eventually, I would like to switch to the X250 model. With that one, you can even set an incline and run 12 kilometers per hour. Then I can keep challenging myself even more.”
Janine once weighed 120 kilos but now feels better than ever. “The great thing about such a treadmill is that you have no more excuses. You don’t have to worry about the weather or going to the gym. It’s the most accessible thing you can do. Do it in the morning, evening, or just before lunch. You can always set it up when you have time. Even if it’s just twenty minutes.” Janine started with walking, but now she can also run. “This year, I ran a half marathon for the first time. Next year, I would like to do a hyrox challenge.”
Janine with her family | Own photo
Proud
Janine’s whole family is super proud and easily embraced the fit lifestyle. “My daughters and husband think I’m beautiful as I am, but they have always supported me. We all eat healthier and more consciously now, and the kids really like the treadmill. My youngest doesn’t like sports much, but often goes on it after I’m done. I have also recommended it to several people around me, and everyone is very happy with it!”
Do you find Janine’s story inspiring and would you also like to get fitter? According to Janine, anyone can do it. “I always advise people: start small and set low goals. Step by step, you’ll get there. But don’t make it too hard for yourself.”
Check out the S340 model from Dreaver here or all other models and get as fit as Janine.
Source: Indebuurt Gouda - How Janine lost 55 kilos. This article was originally published on indebuurt.nl.
