Exciting Changes

Kia ora e te whanau,

Some exciting changes are coming to Just Like You! As many of you know, my own journey of releasing 23kg has led me to develop the weight alignment programme Living Light 5:2. As this work has become such a natural extension of my path, you’ll start to see changes in how my blog and offerings are presented – but my core mission remains unchanged: supporting you in your journey to wellness and authentic self-expression.

In my last blog, I shared the bittersweet news about closing The Magpie Cottage Dipton. While the physical store is closing, I’ll continue offering my carefully curated earrings and special finds online. More importantly, I’ll be focusing on supporting others in their weight alignment journeys through Living Light 5:2. I’ll have more to share about these exciting developments in the coming days, but first, I thought I’d share how this all began.

An ’eye-opening’ realisation

It started back in 2023 with my routine eye exam. I was sitting there, expecting the usual prescription update, when the optometrist said something that actually gave me a fright, he asked “Do you have type two diabetes?”

In that moment, everything shifted. I wasn’t just a woman struggling with her weight – I was someone potentially facing serious health issues. My eyes had deteriorated faster than they should have, and the question had been asked. If I was being honest with myself, it was something I had been quietly worrying about.

These concerns were not just abstract fears – they played out daily in the most personal ways. Week after week, I found myself in my closet, surrounded by what I’d fondly been calling my “big girl clothes.” Clothes designed to hide and cover rather than celebrate. The New Zealand fashion industry and many others around the world are a difficult landscape to navigate when you’re bigger, and to find size 18 plus clothing that reflects your true personality is incredibly challenging.

These two moments – the medical wake-up call and the realisation that I’d been dressing for the body I was trying to hide rather than the one I wanted to live in – became my turning point. Not because they led me to another diet, but because they pushed me to look deeper.

The Real Discovery

When my sister Leigh shared her research about why only 5% of people achieve lasting weight transformation, something clicked. Like many of you, I’d always thought lasting weight release was about willpower. After all, that’s what we’ve been told for years, right?

But here’s what I discovered through my own 23kg weight release journey:

1. Your Body Sends Clear Signals

The problem isn’t lack of willpower. It’s that we’ve been taught to ignore or fight our body’s natural signals. Those changes in my eyes? That was my body trying to tell me something wasn’t working. Aching or swollen joints if I ate too much processed food or sugar. The constant shopping – trying to find clothing that was a true reflection of me or the me I thought I could be.  

2. The Struggle Isn’t Necessary

Once I understood how to align with my body’s natural weight-regulating systems, everything became easier. Not because I was successfully managing to restrict myself, but because I was finally working with my body instead of fighting it. Ultimately, I was understanding more about what worked for me and my body.

3. Style and Health Are Connected

Today, I wear clothes that make my heart sing – not because they’re a certain size, but because they reflect who I truly am. This wasn’t just about fitting into smaller sizes; it was about stepping fully into my own power and presence.

The Birth of a New Approach

This understanding led to the development of the Living Light 5:2 programme. It’s not another diet – it’s a revolutionary approach that combines gentle movement, mindful eating, and natural body alignment to create lasting transformation.

What makes this approach different?

– It works with your body’s natural rhythms

– It doesn’t require endless willpower

– It creates sustainable, lasting habits

– It allows flexibility for real life

Looking Forward, Not Back

As we approach the holiday season, I see so many women bracing themselves for the usual struggle with food and weight. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Understanding your body’s natural rhythm changes everything. It’s possible to navigate the festive season with confidence, release weight naturally, and still enjoy meaningful celebrations with family and friends.

I’d love to hear your story: What moment made you realise something needed to change? And more importantly, what’s stopping you from making that change today? What stories are you telling yourself?

Stay tuned over the next few days as I share more about this exciting new chapter and what it means for our community.

Aroha nui,

Kim

PS: Want to skip trial and error? Together with my sister Leigh, I’ve created a Facebook page where I share the exact path that helped me release 23kg and reach the best shape of my life. All those hard-won lessons and discoveries? They’re yours for the taking. Join us here: https://www.facebook.com/thrivelivinglight52/