Christa Sierra loses HALF her body weight and made her obese family shed 500lbs

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Christa Sierra, 23, from San Marcos, Texas, lost 190lbs after her struggle with diabetes sent her to the hospital where she caught MRSA
The 23-year-old's 395lb body struggled to fight the infection and she nearly died in the hospital
After being on a ventilator for four months, and being unable to walk, she started using an elliptical machine to build up her strength
Christa started eating healthier and continued to work out
With her help, her brother Austin, 20, has lost 120lbs, and her parents Georgia, 46, and Jonny, 49, have shed 60lbs and 20lbs, respectively

Published: 11:15 EST, 19 November 2015 | Updated: 14:24 EST, 19 November 2015

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An obese woman-turned-fitness fanatic who lost almost half her bodyweight is now getting to work on her 1,500lb family.

Former junk food addict Christa Sierra, 23, from San Marcos, Texas, managed to lose 190lbs after she swapped burritos for salads and her sofa for the gym.

She is now hoping to compete in body building competitions and become a personal trainer - but not before turning her attention to her overweight family.

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Amazing feat: Christa Sierra (far left) weighed 395lbs before she lost half of her body weight. Christa's family also struggles with their weight, and her journey inspired her to help them get healthy

Family journey: Christa (center left) has helped her brother Austin (far left), 20, lose 20lbs while her mother Georgia (center right), 46, and her father Jonny (far right), 49, have shed 60lbs and 20lbs, respectively

Inspiring story: The 23-year-old, from San Marcos, Texas, went from 395lbs (left) to 205lbs (right) in a little over a year

So far she has helped her 20-year-old brother Austin lose an incredible 120lbs and her 17-year-old brother Jarred lose 80lbs.

Her 46-year-old mother Georgia has lost 60lbs and her 49-year-old father Jonny has lost 20lbs.

Christa who formerly weighed 395lbs but now weighs 205lbs, said: 'They're all doing incredibly well but we still have so far to go as a family.

'It's incredible that in just over a year we've managed to lose nearly 500lbs together.

Wake-up call: Christa, who has been battling diabetes since she was 18, began her weight loss journey after her weight landed her in the hospital and she contacted MRSA

Scary time: Christa nearly died because her overweight body couldn't fight the infection. After being on a ventilator for four months and unable to walk, she started using an elliptical machine to build up her strength

Thinking ahead: Christa is pictured posed in front of her healthy, pre-planned meals for the week

Healthy trade: Christa used to eat three burritos for dinner, but now she has lean protein and veggies

'I don't know how we ended up being so large – I think we're just a typical Southern family – we always ate huge portions of the wrong food.

'I knew I had to get healthy when I ended up in hospital because of my weight.

'I have been diabetic since the age of 18 and contracted MRSA when I was in hospital.

'Because I was so overweight my body couldn't fight the infection and I nearly died.

'I was on a ventilator for around four months and couldn't walk afterwards.

Dangerous path: Christa (top right), who can be seen posing for a family portrait as a child, struggled with her weight for nearly her entire life

On going battle: Christa (second from right) said she is not sure how her family became so large over the years

Unhealthy habits: 'I think we're just a typical Southern family,' she said. 'We always ate huge portions of the wrong food'

'I got on the elliptical machine for a few minutes each day building myself up.

'Now I work out for at least two hours a day and I've never felt better.

'My family aren't as dedicated as me yet but I'm working on them and we'll get there.'

Christa would eat three tacos, a bowl of cereal and some sausage and gravy for breakfast followed by fast food for lunch and three burritos for dinner.

When snacking she was would regularly gorge on crisps and pints of ice cream all washed down with three liters of Coke a day.

Coping mechanism: Christa, who is pictured with her mother Georiga (left), said that before she lost the weight she would drink a lot to combat the depression she felt. Christa can be seen posing with her old pants (right)

Pump it up: Christa and Georgia can be seen lifting weights at the gym as they work towards their fitness goals

Life-changing passion: Christa is now hoping to compete in body building competitions and become a personal trainer

Helping hand: The aspiring personal trainer can be seen spotting her brother Austin as he lifts weights in the gym

'I used to drink a lot - sometimes I would have nine or ten pints of whiskey and Coke a night,' added Christa.

'I didn't realize it at the time, but I was deeply depressed. I'd been bullied all of my life because of my size so used to comfort eat and drink – I'm so glad that's over.

'I've never been happier or healthier than I am now and that will soon be the same for my family.'

She has now dropped her daily calorie intake by 3,200 calories and is now consuming 1,800 per day.

Not there yet: While Jonny has lost 20lbs and now works out more, Christa said he still eats 'pretty badly'

Baby steps: Christa's brothers Austin (top left) and Jarred (top right) posed with their parents for this family photo (left). Austin can be seen working out before his 120lb weight loss (right)

What a difference: Christa and her family can be seen holding up their old clothing that they used to wear when they were a combined total of 500lbs heavier

Looking great: Christa said her family still has a long way to go, but she is doing everything she can to ensure that they get in shape - and stay that way

For breakfast she eats egg whites followed by a fruit snack or nuts and berries, and at lunch she has a yogurt and some lean ground turkey with vegetables and rice.

Meanwhile, for dinner she will have a piece of lean meat paired with some vegetables.

'Some of my family still eat pretty badly especially my dad – he is stubborn,' added Christa.

'But this isn't about looking and feeling better this is about survival. My weight nearly killed me and I genuinely believe that I would be dead by now if I didn't do something about it.

'I don't want that to happen to my family which is why I'm doing everything I can to ensure they get in shape.'