Lorah Chetcuti reveals how she shed nearly half her body weight

A 41-year-old mother who struggled with her fluctuating frame for most of her life has shed nearly half her body weight.

Lorah Chetcuti lived off an unhealthy diet where she overindulged on food – a lifestyle that saw her tip the scales at 120 kilograms at her heaviest.

And just days after her 40th birthday in July 2016, she was determined to get on top of her weight once and for all.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the mother-of-two, from Greenacre in Sydney’s south-west, now looks unrecognisable after dropped six dress sizes.

Here, she explained how she made the drastic lifestyle overhaul that saw her slim down to just 69kg in just 18 months.

Lorah Chetcuti dramatically shed 51kg in 18 months by simply exercising and eating healthy

The mother-of-two, from Sydney,  now looks unrecognisable after dropped six dress sizes

The mother-of-two, from Sydney,  now looks unrecognisable after dropped six dress sizes

Lorah’s healthy day on a plate

BREAKFAST: Oats or cereal

LUNCH: Wrap with ham or chicken, salad and cheese

SNACK: Protein shake, muesli bar or rice crackers

DINNER: Protein with vegetable or salad

Lorah would find herself overeating on anything she could get her hands on.

‘I would eat more than I needed, my meal portions were larger and I would always treat myself to anything,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Having seconds wasn’t unusual for me. If there was more food on the table and I haven’t hit that full feeling, I would eat until I did. I would ask for seconds when really, what I had the first time was sufficient.

‘If I’m meeting friends at a cafe, I would order a banana bread. I would drink full cream milk and have ice cream with the kids more often than I should. When I was at birthday parties, I would have a second piece of the cake.’

She lived off an unhealthy diet where she overindulged on food - a lifestyle that saw her tip the scales at 120 kilograms at her heaviest

She lived off an unhealthy diet where she overindulged on food – a lifestyle that saw her tip the scales at 120 kilograms at her heaviest

And just days after her 40th birthday in July 2016, she was determined to get on top of her weight once and for all

And just days after her 40th birthday in July 2016, she was determined to get on top of her weight once and for all

At her heaviest, Lorah, who runs spring water and water cooler business Natural Choice Water with her husband said she was always feeling unhappy with herself.

‘A bit sad, I was just unmotivated. I felt a little bit hopeless in the sense of not knowing what to do and how to make it all work,’ she said.

Exercising was never an issue for Lorah, as she explained she was constantly losing weight, only to find herself putting on the kilograms again.

‘It was a vicious cycle of not having the momentum to keep going,’ she said.

‘When you’re that heavy, you just end up battling with your mind. You try to exercise, but you give up, then you try again, and then give up.

‘My weight was always up and down. I would lose weight, but gain it all back, it was pretty much a struggle my whole life. It wasn’t easy.’

Finding outfits was always a challenge for Lorah because she would struggle to find flattering clothing that fits.

The mother said she now feels happier and healthier after going on a strict fitness regime

The mother said she now feels happier and healthier after going on a strict fitness regime

She went on to complete a 100km walk, finished a half marathon and triathlon - and she's preparing herself for the next triathlon in a couple of weeks time

She went on to complete a 100km walk, finished a half marathon and triathlon – and she’s preparing herself for the next triathlon in a couple of weeks time

Workout buddies: Lorah with her gym friends - they go on walks and do breakfast together

Workout buddies: Lorah with her gym friends – they go on walks and do breakfast together

‘You would always be buying from shops that stock the larger sizes and the styles were never flattering,’ she said.

‘You try and find something to feel good in when you go out, but it was always a battle to find nice clothes to wear.

‘When you’re wearing something that gives you confidence, you go out with more pride and in a happier mental state.But when you’re wearing something just because nothing else fits, you start your outing on a bit of a downer.

‘That’s how I was feeling most of the time, you almost wish you don’t want to go out and just stay home instead.’

With fitness, Lorah said she was lacking energy, which saw her be out of breath.

‘I was lacking energy. When I did walk or try to do physical activities, I couldn’t exert myself far at all without being out of breath,’ she said.

‘When I went swimming, bike riding or walking, everything was at a slower pace, I didn’t have the energy to give anything a good shot.’ 

Finding outfits was always a challenge for Lorah (pictured with her husband and two sons) because she would struggle to find flattering clothing that fits

Finding outfits was always a challenge for Lorah (pictured with her husband and two sons) because she would struggle to find flattering clothing that fits

 For most of her life, Lorah said she struggled with her size, losing weight and putting it back on

 For most of her life, Lorah said she struggled with her size, losing weight and putting it back on

Exercising was never an issue for Lorah, as she explained she was constantly losing weight, only to find herself putting on the kilograms again

Exercising was never an issue for Lorah, as she explained she was constantly losing weight, only to find herself putting on the kilograms again

Lorah  signed up to a challenge at the gym where she shed an impressive 17.6kg in nine weeks

Lorah signed up to a challenge at the gym where she shed an impressive 17.6kg in nine weeks

Her turning point came just days after she celebrated her 40th birthday.

She went to Vision Personal Training at North Strathfield where she dropped 25kg in 12 months.

‘And I never looked back,’ Lorah said.

‘The team there were supportive. Nutrition was a big part of the weight loss. I was also able to focus on my meals, goal setting, fitness and exercise.’

She also sticks to a strict diet of not eating carbs or junk food after 2pm.

‘I stick to just protein, salad or vegetables after 2pm. No starchy carbs and rice after 2pm,’ she said. 

Lorah even signed up to a challenge at the gym where she shed an impressive 17.6kg in just nine weeks.

She went on to complete a 100km walk, finished a half marathon and triathlon – and she’s preparing herself for the next triathlon in a couple of weeks time.

‘I’m still kind of surprised of how far I’ve come,’ she said.

‘I do feel great about the weight I’ve lost. There is always a fear at the back of my head that my weight might come back, but I just have to keep it in check.

‘As long as I stick to what I’m doing, I’ll be fine.’  

For those struggling to lose weight, Lorah – who went from a size 22 to just a size 10 – said: ‘Stay determine and don’t give up.

‘There are so many times where it’s hard and you go backwards but if you can get through those tough times, you can make a breakthrough.’



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk