A woman who dropped from a size 30 to a size 12 in 18 months with a simple diet has said rejecting gastric sleeve surgery was the “best decision” she made. At 5ft 4in tall, Donna McCaulsky, a 50-year-old civil servant from south-east London, weighed around around 19 stone (120kg) for most of her adult life.In 2020, her GP became concerned about her 60.1 morbidly obese BMI and suggested a gastric sleeve, but Donna turned it down as she was concerned about the side effects.
However, she began piling on the pounds in recent years, reaching 25 stone (159kg) in 2022 due to “constant snacking” – which she puts down to a battle with chronic insomnia, an autoimmune disease and an increased appetite due to prescribed steroids. Donna had never been so heavy, and it was a “wake-up call” – so, she decided to try The 1:1 Diet, focusing on eating calorie-controlled snacks and one meal a day.She now weighs 13 stone (82.5kg) with an obese BMI of 31.1 and feels like she’s “walking on air”, believing she is proof it’s never too late to transform your life.
Donna told PA Real Life: “It’s absolutely surreal – I bought a size 12 dress in December, and it was an amazing feeling. I haven’t bought a mini dress in years, and now I feel like I have so much more choice. I don’t have to shop in plus-size shops anymore, and I feel like I can wear whatever I like.It’s like I have freedom now.I don’t regret turning down the surgery, I’ve now made a change for life and it was the best decision.”
Donna admits that she has “always been overweight”, weighing around 19 stone (120kg) throughout adulthood. In 2020, her GP became concerned about her high BMI of 45.4 and suggested a gastric sleeve.Donna declined the procedure due to concerns over side effects, and decided she would one day take matters into her own hands.However, the same year, her health began to decline as she suddenly struggled to swallow, and her throat would “randomly” close up.
“Doctors said it wasn’t a specific condition, but I was told to lay off certain things like caffeine, alcohol, and sugar because it could make it worse,” she explained. At the time, Donna was terrified she might suffocate in her sleep, leading to chronic insomnia.To “occupy (her) mind”, she would ride a night bus from 9pm to 4am.
“I could either lie awake or get out, and sitting up on the bus made me breathe better,” she said. “I was still going to work, I don’t even know how I did it.My friends and family were concerned for me… I know it was dangerous being out as a female at night… my lack of sleep made me put on weight.”
She also struggled to walk, which, in turn, caused her to gain more weight, eventually reaching around 21 stone (133kg) by 2022. The same year, Donna was diagnosed with lichen planus, an inflammatory, autoimmune condition that affects the skin and mucous membranes.
She was prescribed steroids, and she believes this, coupled with her “constant snacking”, caused her to pile on the pounds. “I ate healthily at meal times – I’d eat rice, vegetables, and fish, but I would graze a lot,” Donna explained.“I love nuts, but I’d eat a whole packet at a time, and chocolate – I never limited myself.I didn’t eat breakfast, and in my humble opinion, that made me consume more in the evening.Eating occupied my mind… it’s like when smokers say they crave that hand-to-mouth feeling.”
By 2023, her weight had surged to 25 stone 3lbs (159kg), and Donna was in constant pain. Donna said: “I just couldn’t believe I’d got to that weight… that was the heaviest I’ve ever been… it was a wake-up call.”
In May 2023, she began researching diet plans and discovered The 1:1 Diet on TikTok, along with a coach to guide her. The diet involves replacing meals with shakes, soups, bars, and snacks and is tailored to individual needs.People often start with meal replacements, then gradually transition to full meals consisting of lean proteins, vegetables, and whole grains.
“I was determined to make the change, and I lost four pounds in the first week, so that was great – I could see it was going to work,” Donna said. “Once I started, I was actually surprised that I didn’t crave snacks, and I was just going to do everything to lose the weight.”
Outside of the diet, Donna ensured she drank at least three litres of water a day, and over time, she found she could walk without pain. She said: “It’s beautiful, it’s fantastic – I mean, it’s like I’m walking on air now.I’m so much more comfortable, and I never realised the weight was the thing making it so difficult before.”
Now weighing 13 stone (82.5kg), Donna has gone from a size 30 to a size 12 and has found shopping for her “new body” incredibly rewarding. Donna said: “I turned 50 in December last year, and being this size was the best birthday present. I never thought in a million years that I’d do it.”
Donna’s goal weight is 11 stone (70kg), which would give her a healthy BMI – and she is confident she will maintain her weight loss. “My coach, Deborah, helps you in the maintenance phase, and I know I’ll never go back to where I was before,” she added.“I’ve put in too much work to not continue with it.”
To others hoping to lose weight, she said: “Just keep going, and you’ll see results. It’s all about consistency. I’ve never felt better, and it goes to show you’re never too old to make a change.”