NEED TO KNOW
A mom of 3 who snacked on cheese and bread — and covered her meals in grated cheese — saw her weight climb to 220 lbs.
As Lucy Castle, 41, explains, “cheese was wrecking my life” — and getting diagnosed with type 2 diabetes was her “wake-up” call
She drastically changed her diet, losing nearly 60 lbs. in four months, and now works as a wellness coach
A mom lost nearly 60 lbs. in four months by giving up her favorite food, explaining she knew she had to change her diet after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which she says was her “wake-up call.”
A self-described “busy mom,” Lucy Castle, 41, was running around after her three sons, now 2, 9, and 15. When it came to food, “I used to find the quickest easiest option,” she said, according to Daily Mail. Her diet consisted of things that were easy to eat on the go: French bread and cheese, along with chips and chocolates. And when she did sit for a meal, she would cover it in grated cheese.
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Lucy Castle before (left) and after her weight los.
As Lucy, who lives in the English county of Leicestershire, said, “Cheese was wrecking my life. My favorite was brie.”
Brie is high in sodium and fat, Verywell Health explains; 1 oz. of the creamy cheese — about the size of your thumb — is nearly 100 calories.
Lucy said her health began to decline once she had her youngest son two years ago. “I wasn’t feeling well. I was dizzy. I had pins and needles,” she said, sharing that her self-esteem took a hit as her weight climbed to more than 220 lbs. “I used to avoid social events, hide away in baggy clothes and I couldn’t keep up with my boys.”
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It was when her doctor diagnosed her with type 2 diabetes that Lucy decided to make a change. “That was my wake-up call,” she said.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body can’t regulate blood sugar — and unlike type 1, which is congenital — can be caused by a high-fat, processed diet, and excess belly fat, the Cleveland Clinic explains. While there is no cure, it can be managed with lifestyle changes, medication, and regular monitoring of your blood sugar.
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Lucy Castle models a pair of pants from when she weighed more.
Lucy went on a strict diet — giving up cheese in lieu of premade meal replacement snacks, soups, and shakes. “Seeing the scales every week and my weight going down — it kept me motivated,” she explained of how she was able to lose nearly 60 lbs. in just four months.
She’s ditched the cheese and snacks for home cooked meals like chicken stir fry, and says “for the first time in years, I now love shopping for clothes that make me feel amazing.”
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Lucy Castle before (left) and after her weight loss.
Lucy has since embarked on a new career as a wellness coach, explaining that “You can do this too. Take it one day at a time, stop being hard on yourself, and practice self-love.”
“It’s not just about losing weight,” she says. “It’s about finding yourself again.”
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