A woman from Ireland has revealed how she lost an incredible 13.5 stone without resorting to surgery, pills or injections, completely transforming her life through dedication to diet and exercise.
From emotional eating to life-changing transformation
Christina Togher, 31, from Castlebar in County Mayo, weighed 22 stone at her heaviest and faced severe anxiety and bullying throughout her childhood, which led to using food as an emotional crutch. The coffee shop manager explained that her weight struggles continued through her late teens and early twenties, reaching her peak weight of 22 stone (140kg) and wearing XL to XXL clothing.
"I've always been a bigger person," Christina shared. "Even as a kid, I was that bit bigger and it stemmed from different issues. I suffer from anxiety, I was bullied severely as a kid because of my weight and I tended to eat my feelings."
The turning point before thirty
Christina had previously experienced weight loss success during her university years, where she studied accounting and finance for four years and dropped to 11 stone (70kg). However, taking a job as a chef saw her old habits return with devastating effect.
"I lost my love of walking and running and the old habits came back hard," she confessed. She began reaching for "fast, convenience food" including takeaways, bread rolls, wraps and chocolate biscuits, eventually gaining 7st 12lbs (50kg) until she weighed 18st 12lbs (120kg) in March 2024.
As her 30th birthday approached in July 2024, Christina realised she needed to make a change. "I was tired all the time and everything hurt – even a basic, everyday task, like walking up a flight of stairs, was such a struggle," she said. "I knew I didn't want to hit my 30s, I didn't want to hit that new decade, feeling this bad."
The fitness journey begins
Christina's life changed when her now-trainer, Nicky Kearney, walked into her workplace for a coffee. Taking a chance, she approached him for help. "Nicky went through it all with me – my lifestyle, my diet, my exercise routine," she explained. "He made me realise that it wasn't such a big thing in my head."
The initial stages of her transformation involved increasing her step count through long walks and focusing on her diet by counting calories and following a structured food plan. Despite an emotional first experience at the gym where she left in tears, Christina persevered with Nicky's support.
"Nicky got me to see that no one was actually watching me and everybody is in there for themselves," she said, describing this realisation as "brilliant" for her confidence.
Remarkable results and new lifestyle
From March 2024 to June this year, Christina consistently lost 3lbs (1.4kg) every week through determined effort. She now weighs 8st 7lbs (54kg), having shed an incredible 13st 7lbs (86kg) from her heaviest weight – equivalent to the average weight of a full-grown man according to NHS data.
"It's crazy when you start putting numbers on it," Christina marveled. "If something's bothering me, I now take it out in the gym instead of eating my feelings. I feel so much happier, I have more energy and I don't hurt as much as I did."
Her current routine includes weight training five days weekly with two rest days, 30 minutes on the Stairmaster for cardio, and achieving 10,000 to 12,000 steps daily. Her diet now consists of nutritious meals like oat protein shakes with fruit for breakfast, high-protein wraps with falafel for lunch, and protein with vegetables for dinner.
Christina's mental health has improved dramatically alongside her physical transformation. "I look forward to the days where I can go to the gym and be in a world of my own, it's just me time," she said. She's also formed friendships with fellow gym-goers and has completely transformed her relationship with food.
"I've repaired my relationship with food and I've fallen in love with exercise – I now know how to maintain this lifestyle in a healthy way," Christina stated proudly.
Looking to the future
The substantial weight loss has left Christina with excess skin, particularly around her stomach and arms. She hopes to undergo skin removal surgery in Dublin, with her personal trainer launching a GoFundMe page to help raise the estimated €10,000 (£8,819) required, as the procedure isn't covered by public health in Ireland for cosmetic purposes.
"It would mean so much to get the surgery because it's the last thing that makes me self-conscious," Christina explained. "It would make me feel beautiful again."
Reflecting on her incredible journey, Christina offered advice to others: "It's all about consistency and showing up – keep showing up for you, your kids, your loved ones and know that change is possible."
