Overweight Teenager Surprises Everyone By Losing 139 Lbs To Fit Into Her Formal Dress
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People want to lose weight for a variety of reasons. From the obvious health benefits it brings, to simply looking good in a certain outfit, the motivation to drop the junk food and shed those excess pounds is a step in the right direction.
For Aussie teenager Josie Desgrand it was Instagram. At 16 years old and already tipping the scales at 127kg, she knew that something had to change. She felt particularly glum when scrolling through her feed to see pictures of slim models smiling back at her, and after a few failed attempts at weight loss dieting, she was eating more and more in a vicious cycle of feeling sorry for herself and binging on junk food. She was also the victim of bullying, which had destroyed her self-esteem. She decided that something had to be done. “I went into my room and stripped down to my underwear.” She told Bored Panda. Then she made a pact with herself. “No longer fat Josie.”
“I took pictures of myself at different angles, excited for my next weight loss journey. I used a tape measure and wrote down my dimensions knowing I had a long way to go from being so overweight, but I wanted to track every change, no matter how small.”
Setting herself small goals, sticking to her fitness plan, and keeping track of her progress, Josie started to notice the changes her methods were making. She adopted a low-carb, no-sugar diet and upped her water intake. Her dad, Mark, joined in with his own weight loss goals and the pair supported and encouraged each other. “Being competitive with him pushed us both to go the extra mile, it was great to have my dad along for the ride.” Having slimmed down to 90kg through eating healthy meals alone, she gained the confidence to take the next step and join the gym. “No longer fat Josie,” she said with determination. “Sticking with the exercise program gave me the extra push to reach my goal weight.”
Instagram, instead of being a source of envy, became an inspirational support network that continued to push Josie toward her healthy lifestyle goals. “I shared my meals and progress on my Instagram account @nolongerfatjosie. My followers quickly grew, and each was more supportive than the last. ‘You look great!’ They wrote. ‘Mmm, do you have the recipe?’”
“With people from all around the world along for my journey, I never thought about quitting. Putting aside an hour each night, I responded to every person. Being in their position before, I now wanted to help as many people as I could. ‘Keep going,’ I would write back when someone thought they couldn’t do it anymore.”
Now a svelte 63kg, half of her previous weight, Josie couldn’t be happier. Her transformation into a new healthy lifestyle is complete, what began as a diet has become a life-changing experience for the 18-year-old. Her final triumph came at her high school formal, where she wowed her friends and family in a figure-hugging dress that showed off her new figure. Now writing a book about her experience, Josie hopes to help others in their own weight loss journeys. “Now I want to be the push to help people get back up,” she said. “Because everyone deserves to feel as happy as I now do.”
Scroll down to check out Josie’s transformation for yourself below, and let us know what you think in the comments!
More info: Instagram | Facebook
This is Australian teen Josie Desgrand before, when she was 16
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
She weighed 127kg at her heaviest, but she decided to take important steps and change her life
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
Josie suffered from some bullying for her weight, which destroyed her self-esteem
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
But the girl surprised everyone when she showed up with a form-fitting gown, having lost 60+kg in only 12 months
Image credits: Josephine Desgrand
Image credits: Josephine Desgrand
Instagram was a source of inspiration for Josie, becoming a support network that continued to push her toward her goals
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
“I shared my meals and progress on my Instagram account,” she told Bored Panda
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
My followers quickly grew, and each was more supportive than the last. ‘You look great!’ They wrote. ‘Yum, do you have the recipe?’”
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
“With people from all around the world along for my journey, I never thought about turning back”
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
“Spending an hour each night, I responded to every person. Being in their position before, I now wanted to help as many people as I could”
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
“’Keep going,’ I would write back when someone thought they couldn’t do it anymore”
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
Now a svelte 63kg, half of her previous weight, Josie couldn’t be happier
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
Her transformation into a new lifestyle is complete, what began as a diet has become a life-changing experience for the 18-year-old
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
“Now I want to be the push to help people get back up”
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
“Because everyone deserves to feel as happy as I now do”
Image credits: nolongerfatjosie
Here’s what people had to say
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This is awesome what she was able to accomplish... My only question is how did she surprise everyone at her prom? Did they not see her changing over the course of the year at school?
Lol Aunt Messy I'm not buying that... Teenagers know everything that's going on with everyone in school.... Is a gossip and rumour mill, so everyone would have most definitely been aware
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Probably no one really noticed. Remember, she's a teenager. Most teens are so busy with their own angst and issues that they don't really pay attention to what's going on around them.
If they didn't explain to me how she got fed up with the bullying? She paid attention and changed. The literal whole world paid attention and supported her (teens too I'm sure) and when i was a teenager i was very in tune with those around me i knew exactly what was going on with my friends and classmates. Why? Because teens dont have the angst and issues so great they forget to be human.
Good for her!! She didn't just change her body, she changed her whole attitude and the way she sees and appreciates herself!
She seems like a genuinely nice person who will stay grounded in her beautiful new body. Sometimes bullying just makes more bullies, but she seems to truly appreciate the journey and won't become a stuck-up hottie.
she's so cute... looking at these pics I feel so ashamed of myself. I've been able to get rid of many kilos not once but twice... and I gained them back them all plus others... i know people judge me for this and they are right.... it's a shame...
You shouldn't ever be ashamed of yourself. Good on you for working on a goal twice! That takes a lot of effort. There's nothing wrong with putting on some weight. Be proud of your body.
be proud? omg... the importance is to feel ok in your skin no matter how people treat you but dont make obesity something to be proud of. Its unhealthy, dont be ashamed about it but dont be proud of it either.
Don't give up! I know it's not much but we all support you!
Don't ever be ashamed. Don't you dare be ashamed of your body. It was something I used to do. I was always more muscular than other girls and I got teased a lot. They called me thunder thighs for YEARS. Made me feel horrid my arms weren't as thin as theirs were. I started starving myself and cutting myself, until I realized I was beautiful before I was starving myself. I ate again, stopped cutting, started working out again, now I'm a black belt in tae kwon doe, kick butt in boxing, and have been able to defend myself against people older/bigger than me. Just love yourself as you are, you only have one life, live it well. Wear whatever you want, be who you want to be, love yourself. You are beautiful. You are a miracle. It took billions of years for atoms to form stars, for those stars to burst, make new stars and new atoms, that came together to form millions of things, glue, pizza, and eventually you! You are unique in the universe, embrace it!
I want to clap. Wonderfully said, Avery!
No one is allowed to judge you ! There is more than will in losing weight, there is a lot of biology, hormones and psychology involved.
Same here. But we eat too much for a reason, because we learned to use food as a coping mechanism. And until we have really have unlearned that, the tendency to overeat will always be there. I am fairly sure the girl will also gain a fair bit of the old weight back, once she hits the usual obstacles that life throws at us. At the end of the day we need to make sure we are still healthy and relatively fit and stop worrying too much about body image.
There are many ways, and your doctor can help a great deal! Maybe you suffer from a hormonal unbalance, or you just need to change your habits. Remember that people can think what they want, that's their problem. Don't let that be the reason you do things. Do them for yourself.
There is no need to feel ashamed. Actually if you want to change accept yourself as you are without forgetting about your goals and things might go much easier. The Reason behind this is that frustration often leads to self-hate and if one hates oneself that leads to self punishment. Now how better to punish oneself then failing to achieve ones goals?
To achieve change don't feel ashamed but learn to love yourself the way you are then things go much easier. Now this sounds very cliche but the reason behind this is: if you feel ashamed of yourself this often leads to frustration and hate against oneself. And self-hate leads to self punishment. Now in your case how do you punish yourself best? By failing to lose weight. Once you manage to break that circle you might not have to force yourself to lose weight anymore but it will go much easier.
Laura: remember what the famous athlete said, "it's not how many times you fall down that counts, it's how many times you get back up." Pay no attention to the haters, you're in this for yourself, not them. Don't give up, and best of luck to you!
Keeping it off very hard - a lot of people have trouble with it. But you've shown that you CAN do it, you just need to keep believing in yourself. I've been where you are, and years later I did it again and have now kept it off for over a year. Here's what I recommend. Wait until you're in a good place mentally (because it will help) and make changes that may be less drastic, but are things you can keep up: 1) You probably have already learned a lot about which foods make you feel fuller for fewer calories; when you are craving something, have a little of the thing you're craving but pair it with something that will help you not feel hungry again in half an hour. 2) Teach yourself about strength building - dumbbells, barbell, whatever works for you - because when you build muscle, your body burns more calories just sitting on the couch. (And the time you spend doing it will be earned back in feeling less tired all the time - trust me on that.) (1/2)
PS. I am assuming from the way you are talking that you would prefer to lose the weight. (Or more accurately, get to a lower body fat %, because if you go the muscle route then the scale will lie, pay attention to pants sizes instead). But if you are happy as you are and it's only that other people are judging you for that, then screw them.
You already know that you're capable of doing this. These 2 changes may well be enough to tip you over into keeping it off. But no matter what, the most important thing is to NOT GIVE UP just because you've had a bad day or even a bad week. You don't fail when you make mistakes, you fail when you decide to let that stop you. Good luck! (2/2)
There are scientific reasons for that, Laura. It is NOT a lack of willpower. Read this: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-its-so-hard-to-lose-excess-weight-and-keep-it-off-the-biggest-losers-experience-2018031213396
This is awesome what she was able to accomplish... My only question is how did she surprise everyone at her prom? Did they not see her changing over the course of the year at school?
Lol Aunt Messy I'm not buying that... Teenagers know everything that's going on with everyone in school.... Is a gossip and rumour mill, so everyone would have most definitely been aware
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Probably no one really noticed. Remember, she's a teenager. Most teens are so busy with their own angst and issues that they don't really pay attention to what's going on around them.
If they didn't explain to me how she got fed up with the bullying? She paid attention and changed. The literal whole world paid attention and supported her (teens too I'm sure) and when i was a teenager i was very in tune with those around me i knew exactly what was going on with my friends and classmates. Why? Because teens dont have the angst and issues so great they forget to be human.
Good for her!! She didn't just change her body, she changed her whole attitude and the way she sees and appreciates herself!
She seems like a genuinely nice person who will stay grounded in her beautiful new body. Sometimes bullying just makes more bullies, but she seems to truly appreciate the journey and won't become a stuck-up hottie.
she's so cute... looking at these pics I feel so ashamed of myself. I've been able to get rid of many kilos not once but twice... and I gained them back them all plus others... i know people judge me for this and they are right.... it's a shame...
You shouldn't ever be ashamed of yourself. Good on you for working on a goal twice! That takes a lot of effort. There's nothing wrong with putting on some weight. Be proud of your body.
be proud? omg... the importance is to feel ok in your skin no matter how people treat you but dont make obesity something to be proud of. Its unhealthy, dont be ashamed about it but dont be proud of it either.
Don't give up! I know it's not much but we all support you!
Don't ever be ashamed. Don't you dare be ashamed of your body. It was something I used to do. I was always more muscular than other girls and I got teased a lot. They called me thunder thighs for YEARS. Made me feel horrid my arms weren't as thin as theirs were. I started starving myself and cutting myself, until I realized I was beautiful before I was starving myself. I ate again, stopped cutting, started working out again, now I'm a black belt in tae kwon doe, kick butt in boxing, and have been able to defend myself against people older/bigger than me. Just love yourself as you are, you only have one life, live it well. Wear whatever you want, be who you want to be, love yourself. You are beautiful. You are a miracle. It took billions of years for atoms to form stars, for those stars to burst, make new stars and new atoms, that came together to form millions of things, glue, pizza, and eventually you! You are unique in the universe, embrace it!
I want to clap. Wonderfully said, Avery!
No one is allowed to judge you ! There is more than will in losing weight, there is a lot of biology, hormones and psychology involved.
Same here. But we eat too much for a reason, because we learned to use food as a coping mechanism. And until we have really have unlearned that, the tendency to overeat will always be there. I am fairly sure the girl will also gain a fair bit of the old weight back, once she hits the usual obstacles that life throws at us. At the end of the day we need to make sure we are still healthy and relatively fit and stop worrying too much about body image.
There are many ways, and your doctor can help a great deal! Maybe you suffer from a hormonal unbalance, or you just need to change your habits. Remember that people can think what they want, that's their problem. Don't let that be the reason you do things. Do them for yourself.
There is no need to feel ashamed. Actually if you want to change accept yourself as you are without forgetting about your goals and things might go much easier. The Reason behind this is that frustration often leads to self-hate and if one hates oneself that leads to self punishment. Now how better to punish oneself then failing to achieve ones goals?
To achieve change don't feel ashamed but learn to love yourself the way you are then things go much easier. Now this sounds very cliche but the reason behind this is: if you feel ashamed of yourself this often leads to frustration and hate against oneself. And self-hate leads to self punishment. Now in your case how do you punish yourself best? By failing to lose weight. Once you manage to break that circle you might not have to force yourself to lose weight anymore but it will go much easier.
Laura: remember what the famous athlete said, "it's not how many times you fall down that counts, it's how many times you get back up." Pay no attention to the haters, you're in this for yourself, not them. Don't give up, and best of luck to you!
Keeping it off very hard - a lot of people have trouble with it. But you've shown that you CAN do it, you just need to keep believing in yourself. I've been where you are, and years later I did it again and have now kept it off for over a year. Here's what I recommend. Wait until you're in a good place mentally (because it will help) and make changes that may be less drastic, but are things you can keep up: 1) You probably have already learned a lot about which foods make you feel fuller for fewer calories; when you are craving something, have a little of the thing you're craving but pair it with something that will help you not feel hungry again in half an hour. 2) Teach yourself about strength building - dumbbells, barbell, whatever works for you - because when you build muscle, your body burns more calories just sitting on the couch. (And the time you spend doing it will be earned back in feeling less tired all the time - trust me on that.) (1/2)
PS. I am assuming from the way you are talking that you would prefer to lose the weight. (Or more accurately, get to a lower body fat %, because if you go the muscle route then the scale will lie, pay attention to pants sizes instead). But if you are happy as you are and it's only that other people are judging you for that, then screw them.
You already know that you're capable of doing this. These 2 changes may well be enough to tip you over into keeping it off. But no matter what, the most important thing is to NOT GIVE UP just because you've had a bad day or even a bad week. You don't fail when you make mistakes, you fail when you decide to let that stop you. Good luck! (2/2)
There are scientific reasons for that, Laura. It is NOT a lack of willpower. Read this: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-its-so-hard-to-lose-excess-weight-and-keep-it-off-the-biggest-losers-experience-2018031213396