Chubby girl 'turns into a swan' after losing weight

Hanoi After fasting, cutting out starch, and only eating vegetables, which made her body weak and crave more food, Tu Anh chose to eat clean and go to the gym to change herself.

Since childhood, Pham Tu Anh was chubby, easily gained weight, and was quite "big" compared to her friends. As she grew older, she could not control her appetite, consuming four bowls of rice per meal, drinking milk tea, and fried foods every day. In early 2020, her weight increased to nearly 70 kg.

At this time, the 1.6 m girl began to realize that she was different. Her excess weight made it difficult for her to move, slow her movements, and made her dizzy when standing up and sitting down. She always had to use a chair to sit due to a herniated disc.

She fasted, skipped meals, and only ate vegetables to lose weight quickly. A few days later, Tu Anh suffered from insomnia, was often angry and irritable. Fasting made her think about food more often and crave more food.

Previously, Tu Anh was addicted to sweets, liked to drink milk tea, and eat fried foods, causing her weight to increase uncontrollably. Photo: Character provided — Previously, Tu Anh was addicted to sweets, liked to drink milk tea, and eat fried foods, causing her weight to increase uncontrollably. Photo: *Character provided*

In 2021, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, Tu Anh stayed at home and looked for scientific ways to lose weight. After researching, she chose to "eat clean". The principle is to encourage the consumption of more whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and healthy fats...

Eat clean focuses on choosing foods that are minimally processed to preserve the natural flavor of the food. At the same time, eaters need to limit fast food, processed foods, sweets and other packaged foods.

Her meals always include protein, fiber, and starch to ensure adequate nutrition but not exceeding the allowed calories. She prepares food by steaming, boiling, or frying in an air fryer at moderate temperatures.

At meals, she eats vegetables first because vegetables are easy to digest, followed by starch. She still eats with her family but eats on a plate, reduces cooking oil, and uses water for frying. She skips snacks and fatty foods, and prioritizes foods such as white meat (chicken, fish), green leafy vegetables, whole grains, berries, etc.

"At first, I craved snacks. When I saw cakes, I only dared to smell the aroma but didn't dare to eat them," she said.

According to experts, eating vegetables before meals will help stimulate the digestive system. If you eat rice or meat right at the beginning, the stomach lining will have to secrete more gastric juice to digest dry, hard foods - which can lead to stomach pain.

Due to social distancing, Tu Anh does cardio exercises at home, prioritizing fat loss all over her body, especially her belly. Every day, she exercises for 20-30 minutes, without skipping a day. For her, exercise accounts for 20%, helping the weight loss process go faster. The female student also follows people who have successfully lost weight to learn lessons and get inspired.

After 4 months, she lost 15 kg. "Being praised by everyone for 'changing from an ugly duckling to a swan' and then successfully 'transforming' gave me more motivation to maintain a scientific diet and exercise regimen," she said.

[Caption]vvvv — After losing weight, Tu Anh is always radiant, happy and confident in wearing her favorite clothes. Photo: *Character provided*

After losing weight, she changed her entire wardrobe, from plus size to size S, M. "Losing weight is a long journey and each person needs to find the right secret for themselves to maintain it," Tu Anh said.

In addition, simple and safe processing also helps her take care of her family's health. Currently, scientific eating has become a lifestyle, helping the girl have more energy and confidence. She is managing human resources for a small fashion shop. Looking at the 24-year-old girl confidently communicating, no one would think that Tu Anh was also a victim of ridicule for her appearance.