❛BANTING GAVE ME BACK MY ZEST FOR LIFE❜

Sixty-four-year-old Penelope Putzel lost 24kg in under a year, beat her sugar addiction, and is now (literally!) dancing through her days.

- ASHLEIGH ROMAN

‘I started dancing about seven years ago, which some would say is rather late in life,’ says Penelope Putzel. ‘But I discovered that ballroom and Latin dance is something I’m truly passionate about. I’m also a great dog lover, and used to partake in dog dancing shows to raise funds for charity. But because I was overweight, my confidence was really at its lowest.’

Penelope had begun to withdraw, limiting her social interactions and putting her love of dancing on the back burner while she struggled to lose weight. She had attempted multiple diets, but with little to no success.

‘I had done everything from Weigh-Less to Weight Watchers, and I always felt hungry. It wasn’t a sustainable solution for me – I would lose 1kg at best. I also felt that it was a lonely journey, with nobody to provide support or guidance. This was a huge contributor to my being unsuccessful.

‘I have three sons who live abroad, and I always felt embarrassed when I visited them. Especially at their weddings… I was so self-conscious I would hide behind the children in photographs,’ she says. ‘I was actually looking at a photo of myself when I decided that I could no longer continue like that and I needed to take action.’