Speaking exclusively to the Herald the 20-year-old said he began gaining weight rapidly through the end of 2015 and early in to this year.
"I was going through quite a lot in my personal life and at the same time I was trying to balance studying, working, social life, just everything.
"They have this saying called the 'Fresher Five' which is where you put on five kilograms in your freshman year... well in my case it was like the 'Fresher 50'."
Lardelli began to notice the impact his weight gain was having on other aspects of his life.
"I wasn't just getting fat, I started having skincare problems, my studies were affected, all I wanted to do was sleep and then dream about the next time I was going to eat KFC. I was exhausted all the time. I hated looking in the mirror. I was actually humiliated."
Lardelli decided things were really getting dire when he found himself catching Ubers to places he could have walked to in a few minutes.
"The train station was an eight to 10 minute walk and I would Uber it because I couldn't be bothered to walk. And I would also sweat so much just walking, so I wouldn't want to be sweating when I got to uni."
Realising things weren't good, Lardelli decided to start making some changes.
"There was about a month where I tried to eat what I thought was right and I tried to do little things that would count as exercise but my mindset wasn't right, so I just knew I had to do something about it."
He became dedicated to eating as cleanly as possible, exercising daily and rebuilding his confidence to become the person he knew he could be.
"I wrote down the things I needed in a day in order for me to be a healthy person or just in general... from there I looked to fitness websites which told me you had to try and eat at least five to six times a day, and try to never be hungry. I just put together a little diet which I called 'The Perfect Diet' - but for me."
Lardelli says he also focused on his changes as a new lifestyle. "It wasn't just a quick diet fad. It had to be something I was going to do for a really long time so I made sure to put in that every two or three weeks I could have a cheat meal."
Since sharing his post on Sunday evening Lardelli has been overwhelmed by supportive responses.
"I love it and it the same time it came really fast and I didn't expect it. It was quite mind blowing but just so awesome at the same time," he said of the reactions to his post.
While commentors have applauded his new look, he says the changes go beyond his physical appearance.
"I appreciate life so much more. I think that being healthy and being fit just made me appreciate the little things life has to offer."
Now he sees his acheivement as an opportunity to share what he's learnt with others and has also shared a post detailing his meal plan.
"I want to help other people. This is such an interest for me, especially after I've seen the response that I'm getting. I'm like, I could help so many people just by posting what I am eating."
Lardelli believes that to make positive changes it's important to focus on yourself.
"Be 100 per cent selfish. You have the right to be selfish when it comes to your health and fitness. Set goals for yourself and just keep going hard until after the first three weeks, because that's when it is the hardest but eventually you get addicted to seeing results. If you keep having little goals you start to see change."
Lardelli's goals moving forward are clear: "I want to build muscle, maintain it and not put on weight. I'm never going back."
Te Awariki's weight loss menu
• Breakfast
1x quick sachet of Uncle Toby's Plain Oats
1 cup almond milk
1/4 cup of Blueberries
1/2 banana (sometimes a whole banana if I wasn't feeling blueberries that morning)
1/2 scoop of vanilla flavoured whey protein powder
1 cup of Healtheries plain green tea
Tall glass of cold water
Lardelli says: Always eat breakfast within half an hour of waking up, avoid the bad kind of flavoured green tea (which is hard to spot so I just stick to the plain kind). With the added protein powder, I don't even think I needed it I just like how creamy it made my oats and used it kinda like a sugar.
• Morning tea
2x Vogels toast (I prefer the Sprouted Whole Grains Toast)
Anathoth Farm sweet chilli relish (used as spread 'cause I like the taste)
Sometimes avocado
2 x eggs
1/2 a tomato (sliced)
2 handfuls of chopped baby spinach
Salt
1/2 cup of sliced apple
Cup of green tea
• Lunch
Huge handful of baby spinach
1/2 capsicum
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
Chicken breast seasoned with turmeric and baked
1 tablespoon of Anathoth Farm Sweet Chilli relish or home made salad dressings
• Afternoon tea
When it comes to afternoon tea, Lardelli says he's never hungry at this time but makes sure to eat either wholegrain crackers or plain rice cakes with almond butter to keep his energy levels up.
• Dinner
Roast pumpkin & kumara lightly coated in garlic, rosemary powder, thyme and small cube of butter
Steamed broccoli w/ "amazing" healthy white sauce my mum makes
Green beans
Chicken breast
Green tea
