Surviving the image-conscious teen years isn’t easy for anyone, but it’s especially difficult if you weigh almost 300 pounds.
Josephine Desgrand of Queensland, Australia, understands that challenge all too well. At age 16, she found herself tipping the scales at 278 pounds. She felt bogged down by her weight, unable to exercise and trapped by an unhealthy relationship with food that she wasn’t sure she would ever be strong enough to fix. The other students at school tormented her relentlessly, and when she thought about graduating and starting her life at her current weight, she was distraught.
Instagram
After years of contemplating a healthier diet, Josephine finally found the courage to give weight loss a shot. She was dreaming of slipping into a shimmery, slinky evening gown for her school’s prom, but she knew how she wanted to look in the dress. She also knew it would take a long time to get there, so she’d better get started.
Two years later, Josephine has dropped an astonishing 138 pounds without surgery.
Instagram
On her popular Instagram page, Josephine shared her method for dropping the weight, explaining:
I stuck to a low carb, no sugar diet for TWO WHOLE years. I began to eat natural sugars about six months into my journey. In the first 12 months I lost 63kgs. I do not see this as a diet to lose weight, I see this as my new lifestyle change. In these two years I have faced some very difficult challenges but I have chosen to pick myself up and keep moving. Everybody has bad days, never let a stumble be the end of your journey.
Instagram
In addition to sharing inspiring before-and-after photos, Josephine loves to share diet tips and inspirational thoughts about the journey to wellness through physical fitness and diet. Even though she was forced to find her motivation through the unkind words of bullies, she hopes her encouraging words and thoughts will penetrate the universe and help anyone who’s looking for insight and advice from someone who’s been there.
Instagram
“Health isn’t just about what you’re eating and drinking. It’s also about what you’re thinking and saying. Make your mental health a priority. Self-care is how you take your power back!” the teenager wrote on Instagram.
Instagram
Two years after making the decision to change her life, Josephine finally got the chance to pick out that knock-out dress she’d always hoped to wear. After polling her followers to choose between two dresses, she opted for a red “Jessica Rabbit” type stunner. She looked incredible!
Josephine’s pictures speak for themselves. She looks healthy and her positive attitude is a beacon of light for others who hope to emulate her success. Congratulations on reaching your goal, Josephine!
Please share this story to inspire others today.
Share your story & inspire the world.
If you have an uplifting story we would love to hear about it! Share it with us here.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.