A 30-year-old woman who was told she would never become a mother unless she lost weight has dropped six dress sizes in less than two years.
Samantha Marshall, from Melbourne, shed nearly half her body weight after she tipped the scales at 137 kilograms.
Samantha, who now looks unrecognisable, revealed how she lost 67 kilos – and she can still enjoy carbs, gravy sauces and the occasional piece of chocolate cake.
Samantha decided to turn her life around after a doctor made a shocking admission that she would never be able to fall pregnant unless she changed her lifestyle.
Feeling ambitious, she turned to Lite n’ Easy in 2016 where she made the drastic lifestyle overhaul that saw her slim down to just 70 kilos.
Samantha Marshall, from Melbourne, shed nearly half her body weight after she tipped the scales at 137 kilograms (pictured)
‘I’ve always wanted to be a mum, so to hear that my weight could be what stopped me from fulfilling that dream was shocking,’ Samantha told FEMAIL.
The 30-year-old had polycystic ovaries which meant her hormones were out of balance as she wasn’t ovulating, which was an issue if she wanted to start a family.
Thanks to her 67 kilo weight loss she now ovulates once a month and will one day be able to have children. Samantha has also moved from a plus-sized 22 to a size 10.
Speaking about her weight, Samantha said:
‘I started gaining weight in my late teen years and then it plateaued in my 20s. It was because I just did not understand food.’
Samantha, who now looks unrecognisable, revealed how she lost 67 kilos – and she can still enjoy carbs, gravy sauces and the occasional piece of chocolate cake
She decided to turn her life around after a doctor made a shocking admission that she would never be able to fall pregnant unless she changed her lifestyle
‘I wasn’t active at all either. I didn’t know my portion sizes or how to control them, I didn’t know what to eat or when to eat and I didn’t know how to look at nutrition labels,’ Samantha continued.
‘Realistically what I was making when I cooked wasn’t the best for me. The portion sizes were too big and everything was covered in cheese.’
Samantha’s main problem was overeating and in the past she would often eat too much junk food.
‘What I would eat would vary every day but I would have fast food a couple of times a week,’ she explained.
‘For lunch I would have quick meals like 2 Minute Noodles and unhealthy sandwiches using white bread.’
Feeling ambitious Samantha turned to Lite n’ Easy in 2016 where she made the drastic lifestyle overhaul that saw her slim down to just 70 kilos
‘I wasn’t active at all either. I didn’t know my portion sizes or how to control them, I didn’t know what to eat or when to eat,’ Samantha said
Samantha’s main problem was overeating and in the past she would often eat too much junk food.
Her breakfasts would always be white toast with spreads like jam and peanut butter or a decent amount of cheese.
For dinner she would cook up pasta but she wouldn’t know how to control her portions and would use pre-made sauces that were packed with sugar before later snacking on biscuits.
On weekends she would gorge on food from fast food joints McDonald’s, KFC and Hungry Jacks.
Now Samantha hasn’t had fast food in over two years and can never see herself going back as she said the meals from Lite n’ Easy have allowed her to eat the things she loves without worrying about calories, portions and missing out.
Her breakfasts would always be white toast with spreads like jam and peanut butter or loads of cheese
On weekends she would gorge on food from fast food joints McDonald’s, KFC and Hungry Jacks
Now Samantha hasn’t had fast food in over two years and can never see herself going back
‘I’ve had to change my whole life and it’s an ongoing thing, I’m still learning now but I’ve passed my goal weight of 73 kilos but I don’t want to lose any more,’ she said.
‘This doesn’t mean it’s easy, it’s a daily battle to fight the cravings. I have to find alternatives,’ she told FEMAIL.
‘I don’t miss out on carbs and sauces and things like that that I love and if I’m craving chocolate I don’t eat chocolate bars, I make protein balls with cacoa, maple syrup and nuts.’
If she craves something sweet, like lollies, Samantha will opt for grapes or a sweet fruit instead.
‘I’ve had to change my whole life and it’s an ongoing thing, I’m still learning now but I’ve passed my goal weight of 73 kilos but I don’t want to lose any more,’ she said
Although Samantha managed to lose the weight and keep it off, it was a constant battle at the beginning.
‘I tried a couple of different things like meal prepping and making my own meals but because I didn’t know what I was doing it had no effect,’ she said.
‘I’d try different diets and would fall off the bandwagon and I also tried shake diets but I was absolutely starving.
‘You do lose weight, I lost 15 kilos, but then I put it all back on when I started eating again, it’s a quick fix.’
Although Samantha managed to lose the weight and keep it off, it was a constant battle at the beginning
‘I tried a couple of different things like meal prepping and making my own meals but because I didn’t know what I was doing it had no affect,’ she said
Now, Samantha is learning what her body needs and is making her diet fit in with her lifestyle.
‘I love eating and that’s not something that’s going to change. You still need to eat food to be able to lose weight healthily and to keep it off,’ she told FEMAIL.
‘I eat a consistent diet and have still managed to lose well over 60 kilos. I have breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between. I’m not depriving myself anymore.’
She doesn’t always stick to her organised meals as she is slowly but surely learning about other foods.
Now Samantha is learning what her body needs and is making her diet fit in with her lifestyle
‘Sometimes I’ll mix up the breakfasts and sometimes I’ll have a smoothie instead,’ Samantha explained.
‘I’m studying now so I don’t always have time for breakfast at home, so I’ll drink it in the car on the way, then have lunch at school. I eat the meals five days a week and then prepare food myself on the weekend.’
When Samantha is making her own food she will eat a lot of salads and wholefoods and the only way she eats carbs is through vegetables.
‘The only time I eat pasta is through Lite n’ Easy because I don’t trust myself yet with carbs, it’s all still a learning curve,’ she said.
Samantha doesn’t always stick to her organised meals as she is slowly but surely learning about other foods
Samantha has been so inspired by her experience that she is now studying a certificate three and four in fitness as she wants to become a personal trainer.
‘Exercise is a huge part of my life now. I exercise every day in the morning, unless I’m injured and sick and I do a variety of cardio and weights, I feel great,’ she said.
Although Samantha has experienced drastic weight loss she told FEMAIL that she didn’t lose weight to look better.
‘It offends me when people tell me I look better now, I wasn’t unhappy with how I looked back then but I do agree I look better now and am healthier but both versions are still me,’ she said.
‘I still find curves on women attractive – I didn’t find myself unattractive then. I was a size 22, plus sized, and I was proud of it.’