Aussie grandmother loses 80kg in drastic weight loss transformation

An Aussie grandmother has revealed how she lost a whopping 80kg.

Teri Michelle was morbidly obese, lost 90kg then survived cancer. Picture: Glenn Hampson

A woman has revealed how she finally beat her battle with weight when she moved from Canberra to the Gold Coast.

Teri Michelle was morbidly obese for most of her adult life, tipping the scales at 160kg at her heaviest.

“I was 39 going into 40, I was having heart palpitations and really wanted to do something,” she said.

The mum of two engaged a weight loss company – losing 90kg in 12 months under “unrealistic” and “restrictive” methods.

Teri Michelle progress. Picture: Supplied

Having gained 75kg back within two years, Ms Michelle was spurred into a total health overhaul following a breast cancer diagnosis just four years ago.

“I engaged with a nutritionist and learnt how to eat properly, started addressing my binge eating, working on my mental health – then we moved to the Gold Coast two years ago for a better lifestyle,” she said.

The now grandmother of three has since lost 80kg by eating healthy and walking every day, recently undergoing surgery to remove eight kg of excess skin as part of her dramatic weight loss journey.

“As a kid I never had weight issues and I used to come up to the Gold Coast when I was five thinking I’m going to live here,” she said.

Teri Michelle says here she was not quite at her biggest "but close". Picture: Supplied

“I didn’t move here until I was 55, but now I’m living my best life. It’s been a massive change, we can be outdoors and walking all year round whereas it was harder in Canberra because it was so cold.”

The most recent data issued by the Australian Government’s Institute of Health and Welfare showed the Gold Coast’s obesity and overweight figures came in well below the national average.

Moshy dietitian Kirby Sorenson said lifestyle factors such as environment were a major contributing factor in weight.

Teri Michelle now. Picture: Supplied

“(Obesity rates) are increasing - we live in a obesogenic environment where fast foods are more readily available, TVs, tablets, phones is what we do instead of moving often – so it’s no surprise that we are seeing a statistic of 66 per cent,” she said.

Teri Michelle after her weight loss journey.

Pictures: Supplied

“The Gold Coast could be lower because of things such as the beach and the weather – it really does depend on where you live in Australia as in many cases there are going to be some areas that are more focused on lifestyle.”