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I lost 8st after gorging on McDonald’s made me soar to a size 22 – now cruel trolls say I’m too SKINNY
A SIZE 22 mum-of-two who was so overweight she got out of breath just walking up the stairs at home has revealed how she lost eight stone in 12 months - only to be skinny shamed.
Louise Rodhouse, from Slough, tipped the scales at 19st 2lb at her heaviest in 2020, and would eat a large Big Mac Meal, double cheeseburger, mayo chicken burger and a McFlurry just for lunch.
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The 26-year-old has now turned her life around in just a year, swapping huge meals in front of the TV for exercise and healthy eating - and she weighs 10st 8lbs - without having surgery.
Louise now wears a size eight in clothing and has documented her weightloss journey on YouTube where she admits she now gets told she is “too skinny”.
“The reason I stayed overweight for such a long time was because I would consistently overeat. I would eat when I was sad, happy or bored,” she said.
“I weighed 12st aged 12 - heavier than my mum. As I got older, I gave no thought to nutritional value or calorie content of food and lived a very sedentary lifestyle, with no interest in exercise or even just going for a walk.
“After I had my first baby aged 19 in 2014, my weight kept going up to 16st, when I had my second baby in 2018, it continued until I reached my heaviest in 2020, which is also when I was diagnosed with severe depression. I had really low self-esteem and confidence.”
At 24, Louise’s size started to affect her daily life; she couldn’t bend over to tie her shoelaces, and she got out of breath just walking up the stairs at her home. She had chest pains, heart palpitations and when she stood up would “see stars”.
She also felt self-conscious in everything she wore.
Louise said: “I would never wear a top that showed my arms, even in hot weather, I would wear cardigans to cover them.
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“I felt like I was stuck inside a bigger version of myself, and I like there was nothing I could do to change that, and it made me feel unhappy in myself.
“I had tried every diet you could think of in the past, but any weight I ever lost I would regain plus more because the diets I tried were not sustainable.
“As soon as I stopped the diet, the weight would come back.”
She would skip breakfast or indulge in biscuits with a cup of tea, chocolate spread on toast or a greasy fry up.
Lunch at McDonald’s would be a large Big Mac Meal, a double cheeseburger, mayo chicken and McFlurry or Sundae for dessert.
I felt like I was stuck inside a bigger version of myself, and I like there was nothing I could do to change that, and it made me feel unhappy in myself.
Louise Rodhouse
Dinner would be a massive bowl of pasta with cheese or oven food or takeaways. She’d snack on chocolate, cakes, doughnuts, trifles, crisps, sausage rolls, biscuits.
Louise said: “Although I knew that I was big, it also never occurred to me I was at the point where my weight could affect my health, so this was a massive wakeup call for me.
“I was getting chest pain and heart palpitations. I was becoming very aware of how unhealthy I was, so I realised that it wasn’t just the way I looked anymore.
“I went out for a friend’s birthday in January 2020 and the outfit I had got to wear ended up being too tight and the buttons kept popping open making me feel really self-conscious.
“That night I realised I was done feeling down and depressed about my weight. My health was clearly being affected and so was my mental health.”
I weighed 12st aged 12 - heavier than my mum.
Louise Rodhouse
In January 2020, she made a decision to change her lifestyle, and started making daily lower calorie food swaps with products from .
Louise added: “This time I knew that I had to make sustainable changes and enjoy what I was eating and move more in a way that I enjoy.
“Adding Skinny Food Co products into my diet meant I could eat healthy versions of the foods I’ve always enjoyed with the benefit of fewer calories and lower sugar.
“For lunch, the pizza sauce on a pitta pizza is the best and the Chinese Fakeaway is delicious.
“After my first week of eating healthier and moving more, going to the gym, and walking on the treadmill, I started getting less bloated and my mood started improving.”
Louise started weightlifting in August 2020 and has been working with a personal trainer since.
I’m really proud of my transformation, and just when I was really excited, I got these hurtful comments. But I just think some people are going to be negative whatever your size.
Louise Rodhouse
Now Louise is healthier, happier and no longer suffering from clinical depression.
She said: “The more I exercised the less depressed and anxious I felt.
“I was seeing the scale go down but also, I started going down dress sizes and I was always taking photos to compare which really motivated me.
“I didn’t ever want to give up because even after a month I felt so good and made so much progress.”
Louise has documented her weightloss journey on and .
However, she admits some people have said she has gone “too far” and have “skinny shamed” her.
“On some level I don’t care as I’m happy with myself,” she said.
“I’m really proud of my transformation, and just when I was really excited, I got these hurtful comments. But I just think some people are going to be negative whatever your size.”
Louise stresses she’s never had surgery and says hides her loose skin under her clothes.
Louise said: “I didn’t start my weight loss by doing a workout programme or strict eating plan. I made changes over time and gradually increased my activity.
“During lockdown I got a Fitbit and focused on going for walks and then eventually joined a bootcamp that I went to once a week.
“When gyms reopened, I started weightlifting in July/August 2020 and have been working with a PT ever since to build muscle.
“I learnt about eating low-calorie dense food such as big hearty salads and found Skinny Food Co products which really helped me enjoy my food more and keep me full whilst losing weight.
“I am now able to walk for really long periods of time, when even as a teenager I would hate walking and get tired easily.”
Friends and family are proud of her transformation. Her next goal for the New Year is training to compete at Pure Elite in the Transformation Category in April 2022.
Louise said: “I am very proud of my body and what it has been able to do. When I look in the mirror I see a body that has carried and birthed my two beautiful boys and a body that used to carry an extra 120lbs of fat.
“I am so grateful to my body for being able to adapt to weight loss so quickly and I see how much stronger it has become from strength training.”
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