A formerly overweight woman now looks completely unrecognizable after losing 11 stone by overhauling her diet and getting a gastric sleeve.
Monalisa Moura, 33, from Brazil, said she weighed 21.9st at her heaviest and struggled with joint problems.
She told UOL: “I was never thin as a child. But I became morbidly obese in 2014 after my second pregnancy.
“I had postpartum depression, I tried to (take my own life).
“In short, six months after the birth of my second child, I reached 139kg (more than 29st).”
Determined to change her life for the better, Monalisa got sleeve gastrectomy surgery to reduce the size of her stomach to about 15% of its original size.
This operation promotes the feeling of fullness and helps to combat over-eating.
After the surgery, Monalisa managed to lose a massive 71kg (around 11.2st) in two years by overhauling her diet.
She also took medication and fasted intermittently, which wasn’t sustainable and caused her to relapse.
Monalisa soon went back to binge eating and added five stone back on.
However, she caught herself just in time and vowed to get in shape again.
Monalisa, who is now a model, weighs 10.7st and keeps in shape by eating healthily and exercising regularly.
She also takes supplements to help burn fat and aid her metabolism.
The model credits her transformation, which she says was difficult, to her strong willpower.
Monalisa now works as a “muse” (cheerleader) of Flamengo, Brazil’s most popular football club, a job that only the best-looking women are ever invited to do.
