A 29-year-old woman who dramatically shed 115 kilograms has opened up about how she overcame her fast food addiction.
Elena Goodall, from Queensland, tipped the scales at 184 kilograms at her heaviest after living off an unhealthy diet where she gorged on McDonald’s and KFC.
But her turning point came after doctors made a shocking admission she would not live past the age of 40 if she continues adding to her waistline.
Appearing on the Today show, Ms Goodall – who was diagnosed with diabetes and sleep apnoea – revealed her typical food on her plate was fast food.
Before and after: Elena Goodall, from Queensland, dramatically shed 115 kilograms after tipping the scales at 184 kilograms at her heaviest
She set herself a challenge to take part in the half Ironman – and she successfully completed it
‘Takeaway was pretty much all I’d eat. I never did any exercise at all. Three meals a day – pretty much McDonald’s and KFC,’ she said.
‘And it wasn’t just one large meal each sitting, it was about three I would get through plus some extra chips as well.
‘It was pretty bad but back then I just couldn’t stop. It was an addiction.’
And so she decided to turn her life around after discovering she was so heavy, she needed to weigh herself on an ‘industrial scale’.
‘The doctor pretty much told me I’d possibly wouldn’t see past 40 years old with the way that I was going,’ she said.
As her weight spiralled out of control, Ms Goodall had no choice but to undergo a life-changing gastric sleeve surgery.
‘My mum and dad were really worried so I knew something had to change – and it had to change drastically,’ she said.
Incredible body transformation: The 29-year-old slimmed down to just 69 kilograms
Ms Goodall said she’s currently training for the gruelling full Ironman in December
What a one-year difference can make: Ms Goodall told the Nine Network she had set herself a challenge to compete in a triathlon – and against all odds, she pursued her goal
After slimming down to an incredible 69 kilograms, she decided to give herself a makeover where she changed her hair and even her driver’s license.
‘I wanted to change everything… Out with the old, in with the new,’ she said.
For those struggling to lose weight, Ms Goodall said: ‘Anything is possible’.
‘You’ve got to believe in yourself and you’ve got to want it as well. So if you want it bad enough,’ she said.
‘Excuses are exactly that, they’re excuses. Everyone makes them, including myself but I pulled myself up on it. But anyone can do anything they set their mind to.’
And against all odds, she recently completed in the triathlon earlier this year, which involves a two kilometre swim, 90 kilometre bike ride and 21.1 kilometre run.
Ms Goodall said she’s currently training for the gruelling full Ironman in December.