A teenager who shed an incredible 60kg so she could wear her dream dress to the school formal has shared stunning photos of her progress six months after graduating – and is working on a book to inspire others.
Josie Desgrand, a 17-year-old from Hervey Bay, Queensland, finished her schooling career with a bang after finally fitting into the perfect sparkly red dress following a year of strict dieting.
And almost half a year later the passionate healthy eater has showcased her continued efforts, posting photos alongside her former self.
Josie Desgrand, 17, looks almost unrecognisable in a number of her before and after shots
Back definition! Josie admits that healthy habits are now part of her daily routine and she wouldn’t want to go back to how things were
Same poses! The recent graduate took photos side-by-side with her former self to show the difference a year makes
‘I don’t want to touch a single piece of chocolate again in my life! That’s my choice. Living a healthy lifestyle is the best decision I have ever made. Sixty kilos down and feeling amazing,’ she captioned one particular photo on social media.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Josie admitted her diet of minimising sugars hasn’t changed much, but she has now joined a gym and is seeing a personal trainer.
‘I probably go about 3-4 times a week. I’m just working on toning now. I’m eating more fats now, like the occasional bit of cheese, and carbs like sweet potato now that I’m working out more often,’ she admitted.
Gym time: Josie admits it’s ‘crazy’ how much her mind frame has changed since losing the weight
The only thing similar is the hair: ‘I eat a lot of meat, vegetables and salad at the moment. I’ll have three pieces of fruit a week,’ she said of her diet
After she finished school Josie planned on going travelling but has now postponed her trip in order to write a book about her weight loss experiences
‘I eat a lot of meat, vegetables and salad at the moment. I’ll have three pieces of fruit a week.’
After she finished school Josie planned on going travelling but has now postponed her trip in order to write a book about her weight loss experiences.
‘It should be out this year if I can find a publisher and will include some of my recipes in it,’ she said.
Her book is coming: ‘It should be out this year if I can find a publisher and will include some of my recipes in it,’ she said
Proud as punch: Josie said she is proud of herself after transforming from a shy girl weighing 120kg to a confident and healthy young woman in only one year
Previously, Josie shared her showstopping formal photos with Daily Mail Australia, saying she is proud of herself after transforming from a shy girl weighing 120kg to a confident and healthy young woman in only one year.
‘I felt amazing, it was so great…’ Josie gushed to Daily Mail Australia. ‘It just made my night so special.’
‘My friends were so proud of me and came up to me and one even said I inspired her to lose weight too.’
After experiencing severe bullying Josie was determined not to wear a plus-size dress as the date of her school formal drew closer – deciding she would drop the kilos ‘naturally’ through dieting and light exercise.
Josie Desgrand, (pictured) a 17-year-old from Hervey Bay, Queensland, finished her schooling career with a bang after finally fitting into the perfect dress following a year of strict dieting
Sharing her showstopping photos with FEMAIL, Josie said she is proud of herself after transforming from a shy girl weighing 120kg to a confident and healthy young woman in only one year
Josie was determined not to wear a plus-size dress as the date of her school formal drew closer – deciding she would drop the kilos ‘naturally’ through dieting and light exercise (Pictured before weight loss)
She cut out sugar completely, ditched carbs and bread and eats far smaller portions with no processed foods.
‘Before losing weight I would constantly eat bread and wraps, ate huge portions and went back for seconds and thirds all the time,’ Josie told Daily Mail Australia last month.
It only took an astonishing 12 months for the teenager to drop several dress sizes and slim down enough to fit into a slinky, red dress she picked out for her milestone school formal.
‘Before losing weight I would constantly eat bread and wraps, ate huge portions and went back for seconds and thirds all the time,’ Josie told Daily Mail Australia last month (Pictured left before and right after)
It only took an astonishing 12 months for the teenager to drop several dress sizes and slim down enough to fit into a slinky, red dress she picked out for her milestone school formal on Thursday night
Since losing the weight – and gaining a legion of fans in the process – Josie said she hasn’t wavered from her strict diet
Josie is simply unrecognisable in her formal photos, wearing a stunning strapless gown – her beaming smile proof enough of her pride in her achievements.
She flew to Brisbane to pick out her gorgeous frock from the label Miss Savage and said as soon as she tried it on, she knew it was the right choice.
‘I just put it on and felt like a million bucks, it was like I was on the red carpet,’ she said.
Since losing the weight – and gaining a legion of fans in the process – Josie said she hasn’t wavered from her strict diet.
‘I’ve been very strict, no cheat days and I didn’t have dessert at the formal last night either,’ she explained.
She flew to Brisbane to pick out her gorgeous frock from the label Miss Savage and said as soon as she tried it on, she knew it was the right choice
‘I’ve been very strict, no cheat days and I didn’t have dessert at the formal last night either,’ she explained
Before and after shots of the 17-year-old show the phenomenal difference losing 60kg has made
‘I don’t see it as a diet now, I see it as a lifestyle. The first two weeks of eating healthy was so difficult but now it’s easy for me,’ Josie said (Pictured left before and right after)
‘I don’t see it as a diet now, I see it as a lifestyle. The first two weeks of eating healthy were so difficult but now it’s easy for me.’
And her mother, Catherine, is overflowing with delight for her daughter who she said is now a completely different person.
‘It hasn’t just been a change in her body, it’s been a change in her life,’ Catherine said.
‘There’s no better feeling watching my daughter turn her life around like this – and she’s had so many teenage girls reach out to her to and look at her as a source of inspiration.’
You can follow Josie on her Instagram.