A woman who weighed nearly 10 stone is unrecognizable after a devastating breakup motivated her to get the perfect “revenge body.”
Josie Varela, 33, from Los Angeles, California, was bullied her entire life for her size. She was insulted at school and was the last to be chosen for the sports teams.
As an adult, she said men rejected her on dates and that her friends were asked to dance in nightclubs while she was left on the sidelines.
While in an unhappy relationship, Josie’s coping mechanism was comfort eating: she ordered McDonald’s and Taco Bell four times a day and embarrassingly hid the wrappers in her car.
At her heaviest in January 2018, Josie weighed 22.12lbs and wore a size XXXXL, but after being dumped, she finally felt motivated to get a ‘revenge body’ and make her ex jealous.
Josie Varela, 33, from Los Angeles, California, ordered McDonald’s and Taco Bell four times a day to the point that fast food workers knew her by her first name.
At her heaviest in January 2018, Josie weighed 22.12 pounds and wore a size XXXXL.
Today she weighs 12.7 pounds, wears a size medium, and found new love with Elías Jiménez, 31, whom she married in October of last year.
Josie, who now works as a weight loss coach, said: “I grew up being called “the fat girl” and was the last one to be picked for sports teams.
“I used food as a comfort mechanism during my relationship; it was like my drug.” So after my relationship, I was heartbroken and began my weight loss journey. At first I was motivated by the “revenge body,” but I realized I needed to get healthy.
‘I went to the gym every day to gain muscle and then started running and cycling when Covid hit. Now I’m 12 and 7lbs, but I’ve found a good medium: I enjoy being active, I’m healthy and I eat the food I enjoy.’
Josie grew up in a Mexican household where “food was everything” and enjoyed large portions of foods high in carbohydrates and fats.
She was bullied to the point that she became “desensitized to humiliation and shame,” as she explained: “My diet was garbage: I snacked all day.”
Josie said she was called ‘the fat girl’ at school and was rejected by men on dates because of her size.
He said he used food as a coping mechanism during a previous unhappy relationship.
After weighing almost 50lbs before her weight loss journey (left), Jodie now weighs 12st 7lbs (right) and said she has found a “good medium”.
‘In the clubs or bars no one wanted to take me dancing, or a boy would buy my friends drinks and not me.
If I went on blind dates, I would see the disappointed look on the guy’s face as soon as I arrived. Fast food became a staple in my life.
“McDonald’s workers knew my name and my order without me telling them.”
In January 2018, he started exercising and overhauled his diet: He worked out outdoors when gyms closed due to the pandemic.
She also met her now husband Elías, a carpenter, who supported her during her transformation.
Josie said: ‘At the time I was focused on myself, I wasn’t worried about finding a man. But we connected very well.”
In January 2018, Jodie (pictured) started exercising and overhauled her diet – she worked out outdoors when gyms closed due to the pandemic.
Josie now works as a weight loss coach, inspiring others to embark on a “self-love journey.”
When Covid hit, Josie went running and cycling to gain muscle. She said: “I enjoy being active, I’m healthy and I eat the food I enjoy.”
Josie with her father after losing 10 kilos during the pandemic
In 2021, he reached his lowest weight: 11 pounds, 1 pound, meaning he had roughly halved his body weight.
Josie became a weight loss coach as soon as gyms reopened, to help others.
She said: “I am incredibly proud but very sorry for the woman I was and what I went through.”
‘It’s been a wild ride and sometimes I forget what I’ve achieved until other women message me saying I’ve inspired them.
‘It’s deeper than just losing weight, it’s a journey of self-love. It’s not about the number on the scale, how many carbs you eat, or how many times you go to the gym. It’s about putting yourself and your health first.’