For Sheree Ottone, a Melbourne assistant principal and mother of five, the journey to lasting weight loss was fraught with disappointment. After years of yo-yo dieting, she underwent gastric sleeve surgery, only to regain a significant amount of weight and face further health complications. Her turning point came when her mother introduced her to boxing, an activity that ultimately shifted her mindset and helped her achieve a sustainable healthier lifestyle.
Ottone’s struggles with weight began in childhood, coinciding with her parents’ separation around age eight or nine. She found comfort in food as life became uncertain, a pattern that continued into her teenage years. By high school, she was close to 100 kilograms and felt self-conscious about her size.
Over the next two decades, Ottone tried numerous weight loss methods, including restrictive diets, meal replacement shakes, appetite suppressants, hypnosis, counseling, and various gym memberships. While some approaches led to temporary weight loss, she often returned to binge eating and old habits. She notes the misconception that individuals with significant weight gain are lazy, stating that her efforts were constant despite the lack of lasting results.
In 2017, Ottone opted for gastric sleeve surgery, a decision that initially brought hope. She lost 40-50 kilograms within months but experienced severe side effects, including nausea and hair loss. As the rapid weight loss slowed, she found herself reverting to meal replacement shakes. Following the weight loss, she underwent reconstructive surgery for excess skin, reaching a weight of 94 kilograms. However, a subsequent operation led to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli, requiring extensive treatment and hospitalization.
Life began to stabilize as she rebuilt her family and met her now-husband. However, after becoming pregnant with her youngest daughter, old habits resurfaced. By 2023, her weight had climbed to 146 kilograms, a number that triggered profound distress and shame. This period was further complicated by a spinal cord issue requiring surgery to fuse vertebrae in her neck, which doctors suspected might be linked to years of carrying excess weight and the physical strain of pregnancy.
Seeking a different approach after hearing about GLP-1 drugs, Ottone, with her mother Maree, decided to try a boxing gym. Despite initial nervousness and fear of not performing well, they were met with a welcoming and supportive environment. Coaches patiently guided them, and other members offered encouragement. This experience fundamentally changed Ottone's perception of exercise.
Instead of viewing workouts as punishment, she began to see them as an opportunity for self-care, a way to feel calmer, stronger, and more capable. The gym evolved from an intimidating space into a community and an extension of her family. Her mother continues to box, and all five of Ottone's children participate in the junior program.
Ottone now weighs 83 kilograms, a loss of over 100 kilograms from her heaviest weight. However, the number on the scale no longer dictates her life. She is no longer on mental health medication and is thriving in her career. Her focus is on building a life she wants to live, a journey that began with stepping into a boxing gym and finding a sense of strength and belonging.