A 23-year-old mother whose weight spiralled out of control after food became her coping mechanism has dramatically shed seven dress sizes.
Paige Taylor, from Melbourne, tipped the scales at a staggering 130kg after she struggled to adjust to parenthood following the birth of her son Cooper.
At her heaviest, she wore size 26 clothing, ate up to eight times a day, struggled with everyday tasks such as tying her shoelaces and getting dressed – and would be out of breath walking to the mailbox.
But determined to get on top of her weight once and for all, she made a drastic lifestyle overhaul that saw her slim down to a size 12 within 12 months.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the mother-of-one – who now looks unrecognisable – revealed how she dropped 57kg without going to the gym after she overcame her binge-eating habits.
Paige Taylor who tipped the scales at a staggering 130kg has shed seven dress sizes
The mother-of-one – who now looks unrecognisable – revealed how she dropped 57kg without going to the gym after she overcame her binge-eating habits
‘After my son Cooper was born, I suffered with post natal depression,’ she said.
‘He would never sleep in his bed so he would always sleep on me and I would set up food around me.
‘When he was finally asleep I would cry and emotionally eat because I thought I was failing as a mother.’
For most of her childhood, Paige said she had a tough upbringing.
‘My relationship with food has always been a struggle, since early childhood, I was denied food and wasn’t taught healthy eating,’ she recalled.
‘I was roughly eating up to eight times a day with the most food being consumed late at night.
‘The foods consisted of a whole tray of Sara Lee sticky date pudding, a whole tube of ice cream, one family sized block of chocolate, a whole packet of biscuits and soft drink, all eaten within an hour.’
At her heaviest, she wore size 26, ate up to eight times a day, struggled with everyday tasks like tying her shoelaces and getting dressed – and would be out of breath walking to the mailbox
The woman said her weight spiralled out of control after food became her coping mechanism
Paige – who documents her incredible weight loss journey via Instagram – described herself as both an emotional and binge eater.
‘I would eat for every emotion, whether I was happy, sad, angry or deeply depressed. Food was always there,’ she said.
‘And I would eat past the point of full and to the point of pain and felt like my stomach was going to burst.’
Her weight started to take a toll on her life.
‘I was very depressed. I was extremely unhappy, I was on antidepressants, thought about self harm and suicide. I was in a very dark place,’ Paige recalled.
‘Physically it felt like my body wanted to give up, I was so tired all the time. I would avoid social events so I didn’t have to walk around anywhere and avoid people seeing how big I had gotten.’
She turned to the keto diet, which eliminates most carbohydrates and focuses on meals that are high in fat and protein
Her turning point came after she was left in tears when she saw a photograph of herself taken on Mother’s Day last year
Her turning point came after she was left in tears when she saw a photograph of herself taken on Mother’s Day last year.
‘Getting Mother’s Day photos last year with my son was the turning point for me to lose weight,’ Paige said.
‘I got the pictures back and finally realised how big I had gotten, I sat and cried for 45 minutes. I saw how beautiful my son looked in them but I was so ashamed of how I looked.’
From there, she turned to the keto diet, which eliminates most carbohydrates and focuses on meals that are high in fat and protein.
‘I went to the gym for about two weeks but it didn’t fit into my lifestyle and my son would miss me at night time to tuck him into bed,’ she said.
‘Keto has saved my life. I don’t know where I would be right now without it.’
More than a year on, Paige said she now feels happier than ever after losing 57kg by sticking to a strictly healthy diet
And more than a year on, Paige said she now feels happier than ever after losing 57kg by sticking to a strictly healthy diet.
‘I feel much better,’ she said.
‘I wear clothes I only dreamed about wearing. When I look in the mirror, I see a woman who is gaining confidence and self love.
‘Some days are harder than others to love myself as I do have excess skin but I try not to focus on that and just focus on the fact I’ve prolonged my life and been given extra time with my son.
‘Since I am a stay-at-home mum, I normally take my son to the park to play but I don’t put pressure on myself if I cant get out.’
For anyone struggling to lose weight, Paige said: ‘Don’t give up.’
‘Give it all you’ve got. For me, I tried to go on so many diets before and they never worked or I didn’t enjoy them or stick with them.
‘I knew this time that I really had to give it my all or it was going to be an early grave for me. Self love is very important.’
For confidential support 24/7, please call LifeLine Australia on 13 11 14.