A young British woman, Jessica Turner, who was once called ‘whale’ by school bullies, is unrecognisable after she shed half her body weight without using drugs.
Turner, now 20, ballooned up to 16 stone (224 lbs or 101 kg) at a point in her life, attracting mockery from her classmates, some of whom cruelly called her a “whale”.
Turner recalls that the ridicule was so much that her self-esteem took a hit, and she turned to junk food to bury her sorrow.
This worsened her case as she became heavier and struggled to climb the stairs or indulge in strenuous activities.
Jessica Turner, who is from Caterham, Surrey, said she had always been chubby, “But by the time I reached 16st 5lb and size 18, I was miserable and felt like no one found me attractive.”
By age 15, which happened to be the 2020 Covid lockdown, she decided she had had enough.
Turner started following free YouTube workout routines by fitness influencers Joe Wicks and Chloe Ting.
She also cut out junk food and embraced a high-protein diet instead.
With consistency, the results started showing. She lost an incredible 8st 3lb (115 lbs or 52 kg), going from a size 18 to a slim size 6.
Turner, a law student, is now 8st 2lb, and has regained her confidence. She has also become a fitness influencer herself, motivating thousands with her journey.
Of her opinion on how people react to big people, she said, “When you’re bigger, people don’t respect you the same. I never had anyone hold the door open for me, but now it happens all the time.”
On dating, she said she had no time for the boys who are now showing interest in her because they were the same set of people who were mocking her when she was big.
“They never gave me the time of day before, and I haven’t forgotten that,” she said.
She said her journey of self-transformation helped her in her career aspiration as she is now studying law at the prestigious University of Exeter.
Without taking her fate in her hands, turning the tide in her favour, she said she would not have been able to muster the courage to be at a Russell Group university.
She said her confidence, physically and mentally, skyrocketed after her journey.
She disclosed that her typical meals now include balanced portions of protein, vegetables, and whole foods.
According to her, “You don’t have to starve to get results. It’s about eating enough and fuelling your body,” she said.
