A hairdresser from England lost a whopping 112 pounds (approx. 51 kg) after swapping her habit of ordering takeaways and eating junk food to a healthier lifestyle.
In February 2021, Rachel Olser, 34, from Southend, Essex, had tipped the scales at 252 pounds (approx. 114 kg).
“As soon as I started eating, I couldn’t stop, I had a binge eating disorder,“ the size-6 woman said. “The lockdown didn’t help either as my hair salon was closed so I would secretly stuff my face.”
Sharing her diet, Rachel said she'd often visit McDonald’s for breakfast or KFC for lunch and ordered sides. Sometimes she also had two slices of toast and a chocolate cereal bar for breakfast.
Rachel and her husband, James, 36, would also order a takeaway four times a week without considering the amount of calories they were consuming.
“A typical order from a Chinese takeout would be chicken balls, chicken chow mien, chicken curry, and rice,” she said.
For snacks, Rachel would consume 3–4 packs of crisps.
However, at the beginning of 2021, Rachel suffered from a health scare as she began to experience irregular heavy bleeding which gave her a fright.
After scans, Rachel was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the condition was the “kick” she needed to change her ways.
“I began thinking and worrying about all the diseases I was more prone to as an overweight woman,” Rachel said. “I felt like a ticking time bomb and realized I needed to become healthier for my daughter Bella, 6.”
Being diagnosed with PCOS, Rachel said, was a relief, as she feared it was going to be something much more sinister.
“It gave me the kick up ... I needed and I immediately stopped ordering takeaways and [started] tracking my calories,” Rachel said.
She reduced her daily calorie intake from 4,000 per day to 1,200 and started walking. Within a couple of months, she dropped 42 pounds (approx. 19 kg).
She also stopped snacking on crisps, chocolate, and ordering junk. However, she still allowed herself one takeaway per week to give herself a rest from cooking.
“I ate within moderation and opted for a healthier option such as a small portion and a salad for a side,” Rachel said. “I also began fasting which I still do now so my first meal is at midday and I stop eating at 8 p.m. daily.”
For dinner, Rachel began to opt for chicken and salad or egg-white omelet with salad.
With the change in her diet, Rachel began to reap physical and financial benefits.
She also started to save 100 pounds (approx. US$135) per week.
By October 2021, she'd lost 112 pounds naturally, but was left with excess skin.
With the takeaway savings, Rachel had over half of the money to fund muscle repair and tummy-tuck surgery in January 2022.
“The doctor told me that no amount of exercise would tone up my stomach because it had been stretched,“ Rachel said. ”I wanted to feel more confident in my own skin so surgery was a no-brainer for me.”
Rachel said she paid 6,800 pounds (approx. US$9,200) at Enhance Medical Group in London for the procedure.
Starting the year with shedding those extra pounds, Rachel says she looks forward to visiting Florida with her family in May and is excited to go on rides and swim with Bella.
