Before and After

“I know how to get back on track”

About Heidi
Heidi Rikke Gotlieb
35 years old
Works as a dental assistant in pediatric dentistry
Married and mother of two children aged 5 and 7
Lost 30 kilos with Sense and has maintained a stable weight for five years

Heidi Rikke Gotlieb has struggled with overweight since her childhood. After two pregnancies, she not only had too many kilos but also a stomach that was large and sagging. She went to the doctor to get a referral for a tummy tuck. The requirement was a stable BMI within the normal range. This became the starting point for a dietary change with Sense. Today, Heidi is 30 kilos lighter and a stable Sense user for five years. Read how she lives a life with room for everything in reasonable amounts.

One diet after another

When I think back to my childhood, I remember being overweight since the 2nd grade. As a teenager, there were a couple of years where I was slim because I grew out of the extra kilos, but then the overweight returned. The extra kilos have always bothered me, and since my teenage years, thoughts about body and weight have filled a lot. I can’t count how many different diets I’ve tried over time. They ranged from actual starvation diets to the diet trends of the time.

I’ve always loved carbohydrates and had a great craving for sugar, both candy and white bread. In my childhood home, we had regular food but in far too large quantities. There was plenty of gravy and potatoes, toast after school, and lots of candy. I ate a lot and almost all the time, so I never really felt hungry between meals. It was the amounts that got out of control and led to too many kilos – because I always ate two large portions and often took a third helping. I had no stop button and could keep eating until I almost collapsed.

Sense à la Heidi

After my two pregnancies, I was not only left with too many kilos but also a stomach I was very unhappy with because it was large and sagging. It was my stomach that sent me to the doctor in 2017. I wanted a referral for a tummy tuck. The requirement was that I should have a stable BMI within the normal range, and that became my motivation to start losing weight. I was introduced to Sense by my mother, and although I was skeptical at first (wasn’t it just another diet?), I gave it a chance. I quickly realized that this was something I could see myself doing. It was easy to understand because I didn’t have to count calories or eat weird food.

I followed the structure with three meals a day but also chose to do some things my own way. At that time, I had two small children, so my energy wasn’t always the greatest. Therefore, my breakfast could be a Nupo bar and a hard-boiled egg, which I ate on the go. On the other hand, I had both lunch and dinner – maybe not always with the largest amount of vegetables, but with plenty of protein. I quickly discovered that protein and fat are filling, so I prioritized those two elements in my meals while foods in handful 4 had lower priority. At the same time, I stopped snacking between meals and gave up all sugar. The first week was tough, with my body craving candy and white bread, but after a week, the sugar cravings disappeared.

A structure that works every time

The new routines paid off quickly, and within six months, I lost 25 kilos. Before that, I had lost five kilos, so in total, my weight loss was 30 kilos. I have maintained that weight loss ever since. Today, I have been living with Sense for five years. I have found a rhythm that works for me. I eat quite normally and enjoy bread, fries, burgers, and cake, but I don’t overeat anymore. I have learned to feel both hunger and fullness, and I always have Sense principles in the back of my mind. They help me stick to healthy, good, and filling choices.

Like everyone else, I also have periods where my energy is lower, or we are on vacation or eat too much comfort food. I can usually see that reflected in my weight. Today, I know what to do to get back on track – namely, to maintain the structure with three meals a day, focus on protein and fat, and avoid snacking. It works every time – even if I don’t exercise.

Incidentally, I managed to get my tummy tuck. In 2019, I had excess skin and fat removed from hip to hip. The surgery was successful, but there were some complications afterward, including internal bleeding, so it took a few months before I was fully back on my feet. I am very happy with the result and my body, which is slim and strong and fits me well.

Find inspiration for a healthy lifestyle in the many recipes and meal plans from SenseMyDiet.