News.com.au have posted a number of inspirational weight loss stories over the past year, but few have impressed like that of Josephine Desgrand.
The story of the Queensland schoolgirl's dramatic weight loss was one of our highest rating stories last year.
New photos on her Instagram page show that the 17-year-old from Hervey Bay is going from strength to strength since dropping half her body weight over the course of a year.
Weighing 120kg at her heaviest, she now weighs a healthy 60kg.
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Advertise with NZME.Her weight loss has been so impressive that she has made headlines around the world.
Desgrand β who used to have to ask for seatbelt extenders due to her weight β says she has always been a foodie and would avoid all sports. While she didn't snack on junk food, she would consume large portions and eat quicker than her family. This habit resulted in her reaching her maximum weight of 120kg.
Her weight put her off normal activities. She resorted to shopping in "older" shops which made her feel depressed. Despite fitting into skinny jeans, she hated pictures of herself in them. One day she made the snap decision to cut out sugar and reduced her carbohydrate intake.
Her new way of living helped her achieve a slender new 8-10 dress size.
She can now fit into her old jeans with her boyfriend, Morgan Pascoe (19).
"I'm a huge foodie. My portions were huge, and I used to eat so fast. Mum always used to tell me to slow down with my eating as I'd always be the first finished. I was also never interested in sport and would avoid it at all costs," Josephine said.
"I have an amazing family and we've had some wonderful experiences, but I was so unhappy with my weight.
"I would avoid clothes shopping as I would have to go into the older stores like Millers, which made me so depressed.
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Advertise with NZME."I remember finding skinny jeans that actually fit me. I tried them on and felt fantastic, until I saw a photo of me in them. I wanted so badly to lose weight, I just didn't do anything about it."
"I would go through cycles; wanting it so bad, then telling myself it was too hard to achieve and convincing myself that I was happy being overweight.
"Then one day, I stopped thinking about it and just did it. It sounds so easy. I googled so many transformations; I researched how I was going to do it.
"I was prepared, I wanted it so badly, and now I was waiting for the 'light bulb' moment when I wake up and want to go for a run, or I wake up and don't have any sugar cravings.
"I would look at my friends and be so envious of what they were wearing and what they could do. I used to worry about things like not fitting in seats and having to ask for seatbelt extenders."
After realising that her motivation would never come, she decided to transform her life forever.
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Advertise with NZME."I cut sugar completely and reduced my carb intake. Sugar was the main thing. I tried many diets beforehand, but I never stuck to them," Josephine said.
"I did some research into sugar and was shocked at the amount of sugar I used to consume; it seemed to be in everything.
"Making the decision to cut it out of my diet was the best decision of my life. It was very difficult at first; the first two weeks were so hard, but pure determination saw me through. Then it became a habit."
"I read an article the other day that said sugar is as addictive as drugs. That's crazy, but I completely believe it.
"It has completely changed my life; I no longer hide, I have so much more confidence. I played a lead role in a high school musical last year, which is something I never would have done before, as I was so shy and embarrassed about my weight.
"I can walk into any shop of my choice and buy clothes that I love. The energy I have now is incredible. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and just smile."
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Advertise with NZME.After finding Joe Wicks, AKA the Body Coach, on Facebook, Josephine started working out two to three times a week for 20 minutes each day.
She now eats smaller portions of food like eggs for breakfast, chicken salad, quiche, sweet potato or steak for lunch and dinner.
"The hardest thing was my sugar addiction. Making it through those first few weeks was painful; I was grumpy, I was tired, and I wasn't fun to be around at all," she said.
"I avoided going out with friends, I stayed at home and sulked. Then day-by-day it became easier, it became a habit.
"The support has been incredible. I'm still blown away by the encouragement I receive. I've had people from all over the world share their journeys with me.
"A lady sent through her transformation photos last week; she has lost 30kg since reading my story and talking to me, which is incredible.
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Advertise with NZME."My advice is to just do it. Start. Stop putting it off. Imagine yourself months from now. It's certainly not an easy journey, but it's well worth it. If I can do it, anyone can."
