Discover this nurse's secret to jaw-dropping weight loss!
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Disclaimer: This article must not be treated as medical advice. Readers should consult their doctors before starting a new fitness regimen and/or nutrition plan.
Everyone’s physical and mental well-being should always be in check.
However, it can be a bit difficult to be motivated to start a health journey, especially when it comes to weight loss.
But one of the best motivations for people is a good transformation story. Take the case of this Melbourne-based nurse who became an inspiration for many after her stunning weight loss transformation.
Samantha Abreu shed an impressive 45kg, completely revamping her body and lifestyle with a simple yet effective change.
Samantha, 25, has always associated food with joy and connection, a sentiment deeply rooted in her Portuguese heritage.
Food was a significant part of family gatherings and celebrations, creating a sense of comfort and happiness.
However, this emotional connection to food often led Samantha to ‘comfort eat’, especially during stressful times, resulting in her being overweight for most of her life.
In March 2020, Samantha reached her heaviest weight of 110kg.
Despite her self-love and acceptance, her size 22 frame left her feeling exhausted and sluggish, making her long nursing shifts at the hospital even more challenging.
Fast forward to today, Samantha has undergone an incredible transformation, losing 45kg and dropping six dress sizes.
She now sports a healthier, happier, and more confident 65kg, size 8-10 physique.
‘I’ve always been on the chubbier side, even as a child,’ she said.
‘Food is a huge thing in my culture. My family is Portuguese, and we would always be eating when we would have our big get-togethers.’
‘It was a big part of my life growing up, so I think in my mind I associated food with those positive memories and emotions. I found it a huge comfort.’
‘I was also never really sporty as a kid, I was never into exercise or eating healthy. It felt like a chore,’ she added.
‘Although I never hated my body, I sometimes felt insecure. I never wanted to go swimming or go clothes shopping with my friends because I was always bigger than everyone else.’
‘I’d avoid looking in the mirror and would hate if anyone took a photo with me. I didn’t want to have to look at myself.’
She continued: ‘I lived a life that was filled with some darkness and sadness. I didn’t see a bright future, and I found myself simply just existing rather than living.’
Samantha's journey to weight loss began when her hometown went into lockdown.
To cope with the situation and improve her mental health, she started walking daily. This simple activity sparked a love for exercise and movement, which she had never experienced before.
Over the next year, Samantha committed to daily physical activity and began counting her calorie intake.
She adopted the 80/20 rule, focusing on nutritionally dense and calorie-controlled meals 80 per cent of the time.
The remaining 20 per cent was reserved for indulging in her favourite foods without tracking her calories.
‘I fell in love with nature and being outside once lockdown hit, it became my daily habit,’ Samantha said
‘This really helped me mentally and, of course, also physically. I started to commit to moving my body like that every day.’
‘It helped so much to get me into the mindset of just being more aware of my health. I then turned to food and became mindful of what I was eating.’
‘I started tracking my calories in an app, and that is when the majority of my weight started coming off.’
‘It’s a really helpful tool. I now live by the 80/20 rule, and I think it is so important to not be so strict on yourself 24/7, as you still have to live your life.’
‘There are no good or bad foods. It is all nourishment, and you can incorporate everything you want to eat in moderation.’
Samantha's weight loss journey was not without its challenges.
She was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) after high school, a hormonal condition known to disrupt the menstrual cycle, skin and hair changes, cysts on ovaries, and fertility. This also made weight loss difficult for her.
She also suffered from Osteochondritis Dissecans, a joint condition that affected her ankle mobility.
However, after two major surgeries, Samantha was able to overcome these obstacles and continue her fitness journey.
Today, Samantha works out four times a week, focusing on upper body exercises two days a week and lower body exercises the other two days. She also ensures she meets her daily step count for cardio.
‘I’m really proud of everything I’ve overcome to lose the weight and get healthy,’ she said.
‘I look in the mirror and can’t believe it’s me. But I feel incredible, even just getting out of bed in the morning, I feel so much lighter.’
‘When I go to work as a nurse, I feel like I have so much more energy. Being in the medical field has given me that perspective and appreciation for my own health.
‘I’ll always work out before my shifts, so if that means being in the gym at 4 am, I’ll do it.’
Samantha's journey is a testament to the power of self-love, patience, and consistency. Her advice to others embarking on a similar journey is to go slow and not to put too much pressure on themselves.
‘The biggest thing I can say is to just take the pressure off,’ she said.
‘People are so hard on themselves and want to change everything all at once.’
‘You have to take it very slow. There are no quick fixes, things take time, and you just have to go through it.’
‘It is also so important to love yourself first. You can’t embark on a health or transformation journey that is inspired by self-hate, it will never work.’
‘Self-love and kindness is what helped get me through, and I couldn’t be happier. I feel like a new person, both inside and out.’
In a similar story, a woman also struggled with weight gain during the lockdown, and she was shocked when she noticed that her weight had gone up significantly. That’s when she decided to start her health journey using this simple step. Read more about the story here to find out.
What do you think of Samantha's incredible transformation? Have you embarked on a similar journey? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Everyone’s physical and mental well-being should always be in check.
However, it can be a bit difficult to be motivated to start a health journey, especially when it comes to weight loss.
But one of the best motivations for people is a good transformation story. Take the case of this Melbourne-based nurse who became an inspiration for many after her stunning weight loss transformation.
Samantha Abreu shed an impressive 45kg, completely revamping her body and lifestyle with a simple yet effective change.
Samantha, 25, has always associated food with joy and connection, a sentiment deeply rooted in her Portuguese heritage.
Samantha Abreu had an incredible transformation in weight loss. Credit: news.com.au
Food was a significant part of family gatherings and celebrations, creating a sense of comfort and happiness.
However, this emotional connection to food often led Samantha to ‘comfort eat’, especially during stressful times, resulting in her being overweight for most of her life.
In March 2020, Samantha reached her heaviest weight of 110kg.
Despite her self-love and acceptance, her size 22 frame left her feeling exhausted and sluggish, making her long nursing shifts at the hospital even more challenging.
Fast forward to today, Samantha has undergone an incredible transformation, losing 45kg and dropping six dress sizes.
She now sports a healthier, happier, and more confident 65kg, size 8-10 physique.
‘I’ve always been on the chubbier side, even as a child,’ she said.
‘Food is a huge thing in my culture. My family is Portuguese, and we would always be eating when we would have our big get-togethers.’
‘It was a big part of my life growing up, so I think in my mind I associated food with those positive memories and emotions. I found it a huge comfort.’
‘I was also never really sporty as a kid, I was never into exercise or eating healthy. It felt like a chore,’ she added.
‘Although I never hated my body, I sometimes felt insecure. I never wanted to go swimming or go clothes shopping with my friends because I was always bigger than everyone else.’
‘I’d avoid looking in the mirror and would hate if anyone took a photo with me. I didn’t want to have to look at myself.’
She continued: ‘I lived a life that was filled with some darkness and sadness. I didn’t see a bright future, and I found myself simply just existing rather than living.’
Samantha's journey to weight loss began when her hometown went into lockdown.
To cope with the situation and improve her mental health, she started walking daily. This simple activity sparked a love for exercise and movement, which she had never experienced before.
Over the next year, Samantha committed to daily physical activity and began counting her calorie intake.
She adopted the 80/20 rule, focusing on nutritionally dense and calorie-controlled meals 80 per cent of the time.
The remaining 20 per cent was reserved for indulging in her favourite foods without tracking her calories.
‘I fell in love with nature and being outside once lockdown hit, it became my daily habit,’ Samantha said
‘This really helped me mentally and, of course, also physically. I started to commit to moving my body like that every day.’
‘It helped so much to get me into the mindset of just being more aware of my health. I then turned to food and became mindful of what I was eating.’
‘I started tracking my calories in an app, and that is when the majority of my weight started coming off.’
‘It’s a really helpful tool. I now live by the 80/20 rule, and I think it is so important to not be so strict on yourself 24/7, as you still have to live your life.’
‘There are no good or bad foods. It is all nourishment, and you can incorporate everything you want to eat in moderation.’
Samantha's weight loss journey was not without its challenges.
She was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) after high school, a hormonal condition known to disrupt the menstrual cycle, skin and hair changes, cysts on ovaries, and fertility. This also made weight loss difficult for her.
She also suffered from Osteochondritis Dissecans, a joint condition that affected her ankle mobility.
However, after two major surgeries, Samantha was able to overcome these obstacles and continue her fitness journey.
Today, Samantha works out four times a week, focusing on upper body exercises two days a week and lower body exercises the other two days. She also ensures she meets her daily step count for cardio.
‘I’m really proud of everything I’ve overcome to lose the weight and get healthy,’ she said.
‘I look in the mirror and can’t believe it’s me. But I feel incredible, even just getting out of bed in the morning, I feel so much lighter.’
‘When I go to work as a nurse, I feel like I have so much more energy. Being in the medical field has given me that perspective and appreciation for my own health.
‘I’ll always work out before my shifts, so if that means being in the gym at 4 am, I’ll do it.’
Samantha's journey is a testament to the power of self-love, patience, and consistency. Her advice to others embarking on a similar journey is to go slow and not to put too much pressure on themselves.
‘The biggest thing I can say is to just take the pressure off,’ she said.
‘People are so hard on themselves and want to change everything all at once.’
‘You have to take it very slow. There are no quick fixes, things take time, and you just have to go through it.’
‘It is also so important to love yourself first. You can’t embark on a health or transformation journey that is inspired by self-hate, it will never work.’
‘Self-love and kindness is what helped get me through, and I couldn’t be happier. I feel like a new person, both inside and out.’
In a similar story, a woman also struggled with weight gain during the lockdown, and she was shocked when she noticed that her weight had gone up significantly. That’s when she decided to start her health journey using this simple step. Read more about the story here to find out.
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