How this mum of two lost 52kg in a year

Zoe's before and after of her stunning 52kg weight loss. Photos / Facebook, Zoe Lee Molloy

By Vanessa Brown

Daily stops at KFC and late-night servings of McDonald's caused Zoe Molloy to tip the scales at 104kg at her heaviest.

At just 22 years old, the mother-of-two had developed an unhealthy relationship with food - snacking on Doritos, M&M's and multiple servings of takeaway food on a daily basis.

Zoe was 104kg at her heaviest on her wedding day. Photo / Zoe Lee Molloy, Facebook

At her biggest, she was a size 22 - and knew she'd become a bad role model to her young boys.

"I've always been pretty big," Molloy, who lives in Maryborough, Queensland, told news.com.au.

"During my pregnancy with my first son, who is now 4 years old, I put on 20kg. I ate everything.

"When he was born, my weight didn't change."

Molloy developed an insatiable hunger for high-calorie foods, especially later in the day and in to the evening.

In July 2016, Zoe tried on her wedding dress and found it didn't fit her any more. Photo / Zoe Lee Molloy, Facebook

"I was addicted to KFC and Chinese - I could eat so much of it," she explained.

"In the morning, I would usually have a big plate of bacon and eggs. An hour later, I'd have crumpets or Fruit Loops or Coco Pops.

"For lunch, usually I would have takeaway food like McDonald's, KFC or a kebab. I'd also eat a big bag of Doritos or snack on M&Ms."

While pregnant with her second child, Molloy started to see the physical impact her weight was having on her body - and unborn baby.

Zoe on her wedding day. Photo / Zoe Lee Molloy, Facebook

"I had problems with my gallbladder because of my eating," she said.

"I was tired all the time and didn't want to play with my son."

In March last year, after seeing "shocking" photos of herself, she decided to approach her new diet "cold turkey".

"I tried every diet but couldn't stick to it," she said.

"I continued eating unhealthy. I would eat a main meal, and then go and get takeaway because I wasn't ever feeling satisfied."

Turning to The Healthy Mummy, which focused on using shakes and a recipe book with healthy and easy-to-prepare meals - she lost the first 45kg in just 10 months.

"I started off with shakes, and some of their recipes," she said.

"In the first month I saw results so I just pushed forward and stuck to it."

Zoe says she's never been happier following her dramatic weight loss. Photo / Zoe Lee Molloy, Facebook

Now, Molloy - who weighs just 51kg and wears size 8-10 jeans - exercises three times a week, and eats a healthy diet consisting of oats at breakfast, a salad wrap at lunch and either spaghetti bolognese or a ricotta pasta bake at dinner. She's also cut out all alcohol and eats minimal sugar.

"When we go out, I go for the healthier option," she explained.

"But I don't have treats any more. They don't satisfy me, and I don't feel like I need it anymore."

Molloy, who works as a casual waitress in a coffee shop, said her next challenge is to eliminate the excess skin that's left on her body after her dramatic weight loss.

"I want to save up and get a tummy tuck," she said.

"After losing all the weight, I've lost a lot of elasticity. My arms are getting there, but the excess skin around my stomach ... the rolls won't budge because it used to be full-on fat."

"But to think that I've now lost 52kgs is still a dream."