Lindy Celluci's inspiring journey about beating cancer and how she's created a sustainable and healthy lifestyle
/Presented in partnership with WW.
It’s rare that people get a second chance in life to start over. It’s extremely rare for people to get a third chance, which includes beating cancer. But that’s Canada’s Lindy Celluci’s journey.
From realizing she needed a complete life change and losing 80 pounds, to receiving a shattering breast cancer diagnosis that saw her re-gain all the weight she had lost, to beating cancer and re-igniting her weight loss journey, Lindy’s story could be made into a movie.
The retired kindergarten teacher walks us through her inspiring story, which includes six months of chemotherapy, followed by 31 radiation treatments and a lumpectomy, and how she managed to stay positive and determined to live her best life.
Today, Lindy credits WW with saving her life by helping her navigate her food and drink choices, and get her moving to lose half her body weight. As you’ll read below, the program has become part of her lifestyle, not just a fad.
In the series of questions below, Lindy shares personal details about what she went through and words of inspiration:
1. What was your "things need to change" moment and what brought you there?
I was on vacation with my girlfriends on the east coast and it was the first time I realized that my weight was affecting my ability to do everyday things that you take for granted (walking long distances, taking the stairs, etc. ). One evening I was so dizzy I couldn’t get out of the van to walk to the hotel and I slept out there, terrified I was about to have a heart attack. The next day we were touring the Hopewell Rocks - which was a bucket list item for me - and I didn’t have the stamina to walk down to the ocean floor. I sent my friends off without me and cried alone. I said out loud, (nearby people probably thought I was looney) “it’s time.” When I got back to Ontario I joined WW.
“ I asked my oncologist why he thought I got breast cancer when it wasn’t in my family. He is a very matter-of-fact type of person and said, “probably because for many years you were morbidly obese.” That was hard to hear but it stuck with me.”
2. What kept you motivated after the first week or your initial weight-loss journey?
In all the other times I had attempted to lose weight I did my own thing… starved myself until I gave up. But this time was different, I thought what if? What if I actually followed the program? What if I actually learned to eat healthy? What if I didn’t deprive myself? And it started working. My habits were changing and it was showing on the scale every week! Such an exciting, wonderful time.
3. Many people find it hard to stay motivated when doing something new - what words of wisdom and encouragement do you have for them?
Surrender to the process.
Remember your “why.”
Celebrate your successes all the way through.
Make it easier on yourself by keeping a clean environment (no junk food in the house) until you feel strong enough to handle it and attend meetings - surrounding yourself with like minded people is critical to your success.
“Gaining back the weight during my treatment was literally the hardest thing I dealt with. It was worse than being operated on, poked and prodded, feeling sick, having burnt skin from radiation and losing my hair. ”
4. Specifically describe the process and moment that you detected the lump and what your first thoughts were.
On December 18th (a year and 3 months into my journey and down over 80 pounds,) I had come in from an evening visit at my niece’s house … I had walked home about a kilometre and it was cold. I took my hands and tucked them into my underarms to warm them up and that’s when I felt the lump.
My first thought was “this is probably breast cancer.” I decided not to tell my kids but made an appointment for after the holidays with my doctor.
5. Over your six months of chemotherapy, you gained back more weight than you lost; how did you mentally handle that and what kept you strong?
Gaining back the weight during my treatment was literally the hardest thing I dealt with. It was worse than being operated on, poked and prodded, feeling sick, having burnt skin from radiation and losing my hair. Gaining the weight back was devastating to me… and I had to go out and re-buy all the XXXL clothing I had gotten rid of.
6. What dietary and exercise changes occurred while you were going through chemotherapy and radiation?
While actively undergoing treatment you are not allowed to lose weight. Chemo does some weird things to your taste buds. Everything has a metal flavour and certain foods and smells make you nauseous. But with chemo you get large doses of steroids which make you ravenous. I basically lived on salty food and ice cream for 6 months. Needless to say… every last pound and more was gained back. I had very little energy for exercise during that time and became a house cat - all I did was eat and sleep!
7. Once you beat breast cancer, what was your outlook on life overall and how did you implement those thoughts?
Once treatment was done and I came to terms with the fact that this wasn’t a life sentence - I was going to live. I asked my oncologist why he thought I got breast cancer when it wasn’t in my family. He is a very matter-of-fact type of person and said, “probably because for many years you were morbidly obese.” That was hard to hear but it stuck with me. So I started my weight loss journey again from square one. WW had kindly put my membership on hold during my treatment and welcomed me back with open arms. I was ready!
8. Did you think it would be as easy to lose the weight you put on a second time and why?
I knew I had done it before and I could do it again. Healthy food started to taste good again and WW had just updated its program and the changes were just what I needed. I lost weight every week for more than 52 weeks in a row. It was seriously the most fun I’ve ever had. I loved every minute of it!
Now I eat well, I socialize, I celebrate special occasions and I cook fabulous food.
9. How specifically has WW become a part of your lifestyle and why did you decide to move forward with them?
Living the WW program is now just second nature to me. I’ve always trusted this program because it is healthy, livable and most importantly - sustainable. I can live this way (and live well!) for the rest of my life. I also love how WW is always moving forward - tweaking its program based on science. I’ve learned there was so much more to my obesity than just eating too much. WW supports me when it comes to food, mindset, activity and sleep. 10. Looking back, was it easier to lose the weight or to keep the weight off and why?
“Clean your environment, be patient with yourself and enjoy the process. ”
I found that losing the weight was easy and I think maintaining it would have also been easy had the world not imploded with a global pandemic. Thankfully, I found an online group and an incredible WW coach (Sergio!) and with their support and encouragement I'm able to stay on track.
11. What would you tell your 30 year old self?
Even though you are now a wife and a mother - you still matter. Don’t feel guilty taking time for yourself. Loneliness does not get cured by food. And when all else fails and you get to 300 pounds with breast cancer. But kid, you eventually figure it out, get healthy, and land yourself on the cover of People magazine.
12. Your journey is inspirational - what's your concise advice for those considering making healthy life changes?
Clean your environment, be patient with yourself and enjoy the process.
Surround yourself with like-minded people and the experience can be a blast!
