Perth woman drops 55kg in stunning transformation

A woman who said her weight caused her to end up in a series of “embarrassing” situations has unveiled her epic transformation.

A woman has revealed the “mortifying” reason behind her incredible 55kg weight loss transformation.

Less than one year ago, Ellen Palandri’s confidence was at an all time low after she reached her heaviest weight of 149kg, and was stuck struggling to find stylish size 22 clothes.

The 25-year-old from Cowaramup, Western Australia, told news.com.au that she had always been a bigger than average child and teenager, and would often use food as an emotional crutch.

These bad habits continued as she got older, and her addiction to calorie laden, carb-heavy foods such as instant noodles became a huge part of her everyday diet.

She then scored a job as a retail assistant at a lolly shop, which only further contributed to her weight gain.

But it was a series of embarrassing situations, in addition to her lowering self-esteem, that Ellen says motivated her to turn her life around.

Ellen has lost an incredible 55kg. Picture: Supplied

She would use food as an emotional crutch. Picture: Supplied

Eleven months on, she now feels happier and healthier than ever in her brand new size 16 frame – and is sharing her story to help inspire others who might be on the same path.

“For as long as I can remember I’ve always been bigger,” she said.

“When I was growing up, I always used food for emotional support.

“I knew that I wasn’t supposed to look the way I did, but I didn’t really know the first thing about how to change my habits.

“I was never the kid who played sports, due to being embarrassed about my body and how I looked when I ran.

“I would always get picked last when put into teams, so I think that made me not want to play sports altogether.

“I really felt I wasn’t good enough and didn’t look like other kids my age.”

Looking back, Ellen says she can see what a huge toll being overweight was taking on her – both physically and mentally.

She feels happier than ever after transforming her body. Picture: Supplied

Ellen's heaviest weight was 149kg. Picture: Supplied

“My weight loss journey did start with a fair amount of self hatred.

“I used to be too afraid to show my body in photos I would post on the internet.

“I would never get in group photos with friends and family as I was ashamed. I really had to look at myself and ask if I wanted to live my life feeling like this.

“I also felt extremely fatigued a lot of the time. My feet would hurt standing for long hours and I felt like I couldn’t function like most people.

“At my heaviest, I was getting daily chronic headaches, which lead me to staying home more often because I was in pain.”

One of the worst parts of being overweight for Ellen was the embarrassment that it would sometimes lead to in social situations.

At her heaviest, she went through the “mortifying” experience of breaking chairs, and also felt ashamed when she could not fit into an amusement park ride.

Ellen's weight loss is inspiring others. Picture: Supplied

She had to stick to a moderate calorie deficit. Picture: Supplied

“I’ve broken two different chairs, and it was so embarrassing,” she recalled.

“The first time, I was at a home gathering with friends. We all laughed together but I was crying inside.

“The second was at a kebab shop after a night out, and one of the metal legs broke. People helped me out and asked if I was okay.

“Another time, I went to Adventure World in Perth. I’d lined up and got all the way up to one of their new rides, sat in the seat, and then the restraints couldn’t clip in.

“So I had to hop off and walk off the ride in front of a lot of people.”

Ellen started her fitness journey by joining a gym, and working out 4 times a week with a focus on weight training.

However, she did not change her eating habits, and due to building more muscle, she had ended up gaining more weight.

Her weight was affecting her mental health. Picture: Supplied

But now Ellen feels more confident than ever. Picture: Supplied

But after some research, Ellen realised she needed to be in a calorie deficit in order to lose weight.

Once she figured this out and stuck to her calorie goals, the weight began melting off.

She has stuck to her routine and has now lost an epic 55kg, and feels more confident and healthier than ever before.

“I am not going to the gym 5 times a week, and stick to a light calorie deficit,” she said.

“But I am kind to myself, and when I feel like I need to eat more food or take a break, I do just that.

“I realised that as long as you’re consistent 80% of the time, you will see results.

“I have changed how I view my body completely. I feel so proud of myself for committing to changing my health for the better.

“I am so happy. My journey will never be over, but this is now my way of life.”