Her weight drops like in a freefall tower – Kathrin's SHEKO story
Kathrin loves riding roller coasters. Until one day she can no longer close the safety bar. She starts on Sheko – and lo and behold, her weight behaves just like in a freefall tower. She drops – a full 35 kilos . Read her success story here.
from Paulina
Kathrin: "You're doing this for yourself, and nobody else."
You have a hobby that not everyone has – and which is what led you to SHEKO. Namely, riding roller coasters. How does that relate to your success story?
“Riding roller coasters has been my hobby for a long time. I regularly visit different amusement parks and even travel to other countries for it. I love the feeling of speed and the thrill it gives me. Then came 2017. I got on a roller coaster, tried to close the safety bar, and just couldn't get it over my stomach. No matter what I did, nothing worked. I had to get up and leave the roller coaster. The stares from the others were uncomfortable. But what hurt much more was that I couldn't ride.”
Was that the moment when it 'clicked' for you?
"Not yet. I quickly shook off the moment and carried on as before. It wasn't until 2023 that I could no longer ignore my excess weight. I weighed around 130 kg . I traveled to England, Denmark, and the Netherlands, looking forward to the roller coasters, only to find I couldn't ride them because the safety bars didn't fit. That's when I knew: I had to change something."
And what did you change then?
"To be honest: nothing at first. Because there's still this difference between 'I have to change something' and 'I want to change something' . To get started, you need the absolute desire and the realization that it's entirely up to you. I realized that no one will walk this path for me. Everyone is responsible for themselves. You have the power to shape your own path."
That sounds incredibly confident! Did you ever feel lonely on this self-determined path?
“No, I wasn’t lonely on my journey. My husband and my two children supported me from the very beginning. And then I discovered the SHEKO community on Facebook . I only took the first step alone. One day I dragged myself off the couch and said, ‘Okay, I’m going for a walk now. I’m going to start exercising and doing something for my body .’ I put on some music, laced up my shoes, and set off without hesitation.”
"Mom, should we set the table for you, or will you shake the shakes?"
The mindset Kathrin describes here has also been scientifically proven to be an important factor for weight loss success. The so-called self-determination theory describes how people are more likely to achieve their goals when they do so 'from within,' rather than submitting to what others expect of them. One way to help develop this inner attitude is to ask yourself: What does losing weight mean to me? What would change as a result, how would I feel?
The freedom to eat chips occasionally – and still lose 15 kilos.
So your starting point was a walk. Is exercise still important to you?
"Exercise has become part of my daily routine – even more so than ever. I enjoyed my daily walks so much that after a few weeks I started Nordic walking , and later power walking and hiking . I also bought a hula hoop for home . And – something I'm particularly proud of – I've now started jogging."
Wow, you sound so happy when you're telling your story. How wonderful! Where did SHEKO come into your life?
"Actually, right at the beginning. After my first walk, I sat down at home and scoured the internet for tips on how to lose weight. I read up on it a bit, my husband researched with me, and we quickly came across the Balance Shakes . I didn't hesitate long and ordered the trial set to my home."
How do you use the shakes? And how does your family react to them?
" Currently, I replace two meals a day with a shake . I change which ones daily. Sometimes it's breakfast and dinner, other times lunch and dinner. And on weekends, I only have one shake a day . My family supports me as always. When my kids are setting the table, they always ask me, 'Mom, should we set the table for you too, or are you having a shake?' They are considerate, cheer me up, and make me feel good."
That sounds wonderful! Do you generally feel free with SHEKO?
"Absolutely. That's exactly what I love about it. Especially when things get stressful in my job as a medical assistant, it's often impossible to eat fresh food. But I can take my shaker anywhere , prepare it quickly, and just drink it on the go. It's so convenient. Oh, and I treat myself now and then . I don't have any forbidden foods. I just make sure that if I eat chips, for example, I still maintain a calorie deficit . I allow myself that freedom, and it still works: I've already lost around 35 kilos."
Wow, you can be really proud of that! Do you have a favorite shake?
"My favorite flavor is stracciatella , and my 'self-invented flavor' is also there. Sometimes I mix half banana and half cherry. Then you basically have KiBa – and it's super delicious."
Rollercoaster of emotions
You mentioned your hobby earlier. What's your weight like now – does it fluctuate like a roller coaster, or is it more like bumper cars where you sometimes hit obstacles?
"My weight is steadily decreasing – without any sudden spikes or anything. As I said, I've now lost 35 kilograms. Only once did I suddenly gain a kilogram. That really shocked me at first, but then a friend reassured me that it's perfectly normal to retain more water during your period ."
So you stop your emotional rollercoaster by talking to others?
"I think that's why I like the SHEKO Facebook group so much. And I find it really interesting that I'm saying this now, because I'm actually rather introverted, but: I always try to encourage others in the group and I also see that you're immediately motivated by others as soon as you post about your doubts, or about days when things just don't go as planned. The support there has really given me a boost."
Have you actually reached your ideal self now?
"Not quite yet. But I'm not stressing about it. I know where I want to go and how it works. My next goal is to lose about 15 kg so I can reach 80 kg. I'm approaching it step by step and seeing how it feels. I'll give myself the freedom to decide in the moment whether my actual ideal weight is higher or lower. For me, only one thing is important: that I can finally enjoy riding roller coasters again – with plenty of room in the seat and a safety bar that closes without any problems. That wasn't possible for five years. So my cheers are all the louder now."
Losing weight with SHEKO: Kathrin's tips
Here's the guide to your very own success story.
SHEKO is about your well-being – not about making others feel good. Other people's expectations shouldn't be your goal, but rather the point at which you feel comfortable yourself. "You have to be mentally ready. You have to have internalized that you're doing it for yourself."
Kathrin also has days when she's not cheering like she's on a rollercoaster. But she's certain of one thing: "Every day is a new day and a new chance to continue on your journey." She doesn't give up, looks ahead, and now knows: even if the pounds don't melt away, that doesn't mean things won't be different tomorrow. "You can't just throw in the towel."
"You have to stay on it."
When Kathrin begins her SHEKO journey, she immediately tells her family. Her goal isn't for her husband and children to also participate in the Shaken Method, but rather for them to understand how important it is to her to achieve her goal.
*The amount of weight loss varies from person to person and cannot be guaranteed. Similarly, the weight loss results reported in the SHEKO stories are individual and do not guarantee a corresponding weight loss within the same timeframe. To lose weight, two daily meals must be replaced with SHEKO shakes as part of a calorie-reduced diet.