Binge eating saw me reach 17st & men always asked me the same embarrassing question – free activity helped me lose 5st

WHEN Therese O’Callaghan went on a night out with her friends, she would be asked by men, “Why are you so fat?” before bravely shrugging it off. But it wasn’t these cruel comments that made the then 21-year-old completely transform not only her appearance but her life; it was the moment she stepped on the scales and saw the numbers staring back, showing she weighed 17st. Therese O’Callaghan dropped from 17st to 5st Credit: Supplied Consuming 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day saw Therese’s weight creep up Credit: Supplied Therese, originally from Newry, Northern Ireland, would consume 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day, sometimes even more because she often didn’t keep track, she admits. Her unhealthy relationship with food only got worse when she became old enough to drink, spending all weekend downing booze to numb her feelings of low-self esteem. Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! Secretly binge eating in her car to avoid questions over her spiralling weight and hiding food wrappers at the bottom of the bin, she finally stood on the scales in 2022. Now aged 25 and living in London, Therese says: “It was a wake-up call; you avoid weighing yourself for so long, actually avoiding addressing the problem. Therese says her unhealthy relationship with food got worse when she became old enough to drink Credit: Supplied Therese credits walking everywhere as a big part of her weight loss success Credit: Supplied “Something had to change, but firstly you have to accept where you are at. There’s no more b***s****ing this, you have to face the music.” Living at home with her active parents and five sporty siblings in Ireland, Therese says she always had a difficult relationship with food from a young age. Talking about how she felt different as a child, she says she wasn’t able to wear the same clothes as her friends, adding: “I would have to shop in the adult section for clothes as a kid.” Therese explains: “Food for me was always something I struggled with from a young age. It was something I always leaned on. Most read in Fabulous “As I got older, you become more aware of your body and how you look, and you compare yourself to other people. “I always knew that I looked different; food became that thing for me, it just made me feel a bit better.” But as she grew through her teenage years and into early adulthood, eventually working as a full-time cleaner, she had become more aware of diet culture, had more access to junk food, and was able to secretly binge eat alone in her car. She says: “I was by myself most of the day. I was buying breakfast on the go, then nipping into a shop for lunch. “By the time you get home, and you’ve been on your feet for ten hours, the last thing you wanna do is cook. “It’s convenience over everything, but also lack of education; I didn’t know what I was putting into my body. I didn’t really care at that point either. “I would be so embarrassed by what I had to eat that I would hide wrappers at the bottom of the bin so no one would see them. “When you have your own money and your own car, it meant food was more accessible to secretly eat because you can be on your own more. Therese says her progression started with “one stepping stone at a time” Credit: Supplied Losing weight has led Therese to become a fat loss coach to help others Credit: Supplied “I was avoiding conversations about food at all costs; I didn’t want to bring any attention to it.” Therese says a toxic combination of her unhealthy eating and drinking alcohol over the weekends not only affected her physically, causing her weight to spiral, but also mentally. She adds: “Alcohol paired with my relationship with food didn’t help my body or my mind. Alcohol was just another thing that made me feel better. “Even if it was for a night or two nights, at least I didn’t have to feel the way I felt every single day. It was almost my escapism. “What you don’t realise at the time is that you’re only escaping it for a short period. “Every single thing that you’re feeling, every single thing you’re going through mentally, physically and emotionally, it only goes away for a short time. While nights out offered temporary enjoyment, Therese says she was often made aware by men that she was the “bigger friend” and was on the receiving end of hurtful comments. She explains: “It could be something as simple as someone saying, ‘Why are you so fat?’ “But I never took it too much to heart.” How cutting out sugar can help you lose weight It might sound obvious, but cutting out sugar can help you lose weight - and this is why Reduced alorie intake: Sugar is calorie-dense but not nutrient-dense, meaning it provides a lot of calories without making you feel full. By cutting out sugar, you naturally reduce your overall caloric intake, which can create a calorie deficit and lead to weight loss. Lower Insulin Levels: Consuming sugar, especially in large amounts, causes spikes in blood sugar levels, leading to increased insulin production. Insulin is a hormone that promotes fat storage. By reducing sugar intake, you can help stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels, making it easier for your body to burn fat. Decreased Cravings: Sugar can be addictive and lead to cravings for more sugary foods. By cutting it out, you may find that your cravings for unhealthy, high-calorie foods decrease, making it easier to stick to a healthier diet. Improved Satiety: Foods high in sugar are often low in fiber and protein, which are essential for feeling full and satisfied. By replacing sugary foods with more nutrient-dense options like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, you can increase your satiety and reduce overall calorie consumption. Better Nutrient Intake: When you cut out sugary foods, you often make room for more nutritious foods. This can improve your overall diet quality, providing your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to function optimally, which can support weight loss efforts. Reduced Fat Storage: High sugar intake, particularly from fructose, can lead to increased fat production in the liver, contributing to weight gain and obesity. Cutting out sugar helps to reduce this effect. Enhanced Metabolism: Reducing sugar can improve metabolic health, including better insulin sensitivity and lower risk of metabolic syndrome, which can facilitate weight loss. By cutting out sugar and replacing it with healthier options, you can create a more balanced and sustainable diet that supports weight loss and overall well-being. For years, Therese had tried fad diet after fad diet, but in 2022, aged 21, it would be the moment she stepped on the scales that would change her life forever. She says: “I didn’t weigh myself at my heaviest because I didn’t want to use the scales. But I had been trying to change my habits for a while. At 21, I weighed 240lbs (17st 1lb). “I started slowly; I had a much different approach. I’ve spent my entire teen years on diet after diet, losing weight and gaining it back, and I knew this time had to be different. “I accepted that I have to be in this for the long haul and accept it will take time. It was small changes, and I think that’s the thing that people get wrong. “It could just be going for walks, or trying to drink more water, or I’m gonna try and add more vegetables to my meals, or not ordering as many takeaways. “It was one stepping stone at a time. That was where my progression started.” Therese has now lost an incredible 5st and credits one “underrated” activity for her success – walking everywhere. It’s been a huge four-year journey, and one that has led Therese to her “purpose in life” – working as a fat loss coach to help others with their own transformations. She’s now helped thousands of women with her programme and team at TOCCoaching, which not only helps people make sustainable changes to lose weight, but looks at behaviours, patterns and mindset when it comes to diet. She says: “It’s not just losing weight or changing appearance; this is transformation in its entirety.” In that time, she also met her boyfriend, Junior, whose supported her throughout. She adds: “We met almost 2 years ago while I was heavily into my journey, and from the jump was just super inspired by my story and seeing how far I’ve come. Still to this day, he always lets me know how proud he is of me.” When asked how she felt about fat jabs, she said: “I’m not against them; I’m aware as to why they were created and who they were created for. “However, they’re massively overused. People who don’t necessarily need them are using them when they could be losing fat without them.” Speaking about her own plans for the future, she says: “The goal is not fat loss now… I’m at a healthy place. It’s about what my body can do, how strong I can become; that’s the message I wanna get across to women. “Fat loss is not forever; it’s just a phase, and if you commit and do it well, you don’t have to spend your life trying to be small and shrinking yourself.” Comment now