An overweight woman who would survive on free pastries and sugary snacks from her workplace, has overhauled her health after experiencing a traumatic car crash.
Rosa Charice Mulé, 21, who lives in California, tipped scales at 280lbs, after years of comfort eating sugary snacks and free pastries from her workplace to cope with depression.
The coffee shop manager feared that she would become prediabetic from her diet, consisting predominately of bread and sugar.
She began exercising and healthy eating to lose weight, but was forced to stop her efforts after having a traumatic car crash.
Warned by doctors that her injuries would cause pain for the rest of her life, Rosa was inspired by the physical therapy that she received to continue overhauling her health and documented her progress on Instagram.
The 21-year-old has since dropped 130lbs, shedding 100lbs in four months with a ketogenic diet and an additional 30lbs as a vegan.
Rosa Charice Mulé, 21, (pictured) who lives in California, weighed 280lbs at her heaviest but dropped down to just over 150lbs after surviving a traumatic car crash
Rosa (pictured before) who struggled with her weight despite playing sports, revealed she would eat sugary snacks and free pastries from her job as a coffee shop manager
Rosa (pictured) explained that she would Photoshop her photos because she was ashamed of her 280lbs frame
Rosa revealed that she struggled to manage her weight, despite being actively involved in sports.
In a YouTube video reflecting on being at her heaviest, she said: ‘Every night it was just candies, cookies, brownies. Anything you could think of that was sweet I was eating it at night.
‘On top of that I was trying to be frugal and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money so I would eat the pastries that were there because they were free to me.’
She admitted to comfort eating because she felt depressed and used Photoshop to disguise her weight.
‘I don’t really have any pictures from this time period because I was so ashamed of the way that I looked. I didn’t want anyone to see how big I had gotten,’ Rosa added.
Rosa (pictured) said that she tried healthy eating and exercise to lose weight before her car crash, but visible results were slow
Rosa (pictured before) was told by doctors that she would experience pain for the rest of her life, after surviving a traumatic car crash
On bed rest for three months after her car crash, Rosa explained she was unable to work because her injuries had caused back pain and memory loss.
Physical therapy helped her to regain her ability to walk and inspired her to improve her health.
Rosa said: ‘I was 19 and I didn’t want to allow an injury to define the rest of my life. I wanted to get my body and mind back.’
She explained that she chose to cut carbs from her diet and follow a ketogenic lifestyle because she wanted to lose a large amount of weight quickly.
Paired with one hour cardio daily, Rosa said she was strict with her diet and spent time in a sauna to support her progress.
Rosa (pictured before) admits she was determined to prove doctors wrong and believed continuing to stay active would help her injuries
She told FEMAIL: ‘Before I went on my weight loss journey, I ate poorly. My diet mainly consisted of highly processed foods, excess sugar and carbs. When I transitioned into my weight loss journey, I went on the ketogenic diet.
‘The keto diet is broken down into high unsaturated carbohydrates, moderate protein , low to almost no carbs and absolutely zero sugar along with simultaneously intermittent fasting.
‘I ate one meal a day on the keto diet along with exercising in a fasted state. This routine allowed me to lose 100LBS in only four months.
‘What kept me motivated through my weight loss journey was my own well being and trying to become a stronger, healthier person. Losing weight was only the thing that was going to help me completely change my life around. Once I saw how implementing self care improved my life, it pushed me to keep going.’
Rosa (pictured) paired the ketogenic diet with, intermittent fasting and one hour of cardio exercise each day
Now weighing 150lbs, Rosa admits she begun her weightloss process with the intention of losing just 70lbs.
She explained maintaining her weightloss involves continuing to follow a vegan lifestyle and eating just one meal a day.
Rosa said: ‘I feel good when I fast and I’m not overeating, stuffing my face.’
‘I got really curvy when I hit 170lbs but I didn’t want to be curvy like that, I wanted to be more slim.
‘My experience going through this whole thing, I feel like it was life-changing. Me, thinking about weightloss, fitness and learning to take care of myself changed my life.
‘I feel l stronger, happier and full of love for myself and for life. I have a new appreciation.’
Rosa (pictured before) revealed her intention was to shed just 70lbs when she began losing weight, but she wanted to achieve a slim figure
Rosa who lost 100lbs in four months, revealed that she spent an additional year losing 30lbs as a vegan. Pictured left: before. Pictured right: after
Rosa (pictured) admits her weight loss has given her a new appreciation for life and has caused her to feel happier