Mother who struggled with an eating disorder shows off her remarkable transformation as she reveals how she shed 100LBS in just one year without the help of any weight loss 'gimmicks' 

  • Rachel Graham, 24, from Nova Scotia, Canada, went from 235lbs to 144lbs over the course of one year 
  • The mother-of-two had an eating disorder when she was in school
  • Her weight spiraled out of control after she allowed herself to eat whatever she wanted during her first pregnancy
  • Rachel would try diet pills, wraps, and strict diets, but she would eventually gain back the small amounts of weight she lost 
  • In June 2015, Rachel became serious about her weight loss and started exercising and counting calories 
  • After losing 91lbs, she is now focused on learning to love her new body, including the loose skin on her stomach, legs and arms  

A mother-of-two, who once struggled with an eating disorder, has revealed how she was able to lose nearly 100lbs, without starving herself. 

Rachel Graham, 24, from Nova Scotia, Canada, went from 235lbs to 144lbs over the course of one year, and she wants others to know that it is '110 per cent possible' to lose weight through diet and exercise and alone.

'I used to feel as though it wasn't. That I didn't have "what it takes," and that it was just too far out of reach,' she told the Today of her incredible weight loss. 'If you want to make changes, it is completely possible with healthy food and exercise.'  

Transformation: Rachel Graham, 24, from Nova Scotia, Canada, went from 235lbs to 144lbs over the course of one year

Transformation: Rachel Graham, 24, from Nova Scotia, Canada, went from 235lbs to 144lbs over the course of one year

Body confidence: After losing 91lbs, she is now focused on learning to love her new body, including the loose skin on her stomach, legs and arms

Body confidence: After losing 91lbs, she is now focused on learning to love her new body, including the loose skin on her stomach, legs and arms

Rachel had an eating disorder when she was in school, but when she learned she was pregnant with her first child, she allowed herself to eat whatever she wanted.

Although she assured herself that she would lose the weight after she gave birth, Rachel's weight eventually spiraled out of control.

The mom would go from eating hardly anything to binging, and although she tried different diets, wraps, and weight loss pills, she would always gain back the small amounts of weight she did lose. 

Rachel weighed 235lbs before she learned she was pregnant with her second son, and she gained another 10lbs during her pregnancy.

All or nothing attitude: Before her weight spiraled out of control (center), Rachel struggled with an eating disorder (far left)

All or nothing attitude: Before her weight spiraled out of control (center), Rachel struggled with an eating disorder (far left)

Gimmicks: Rachel would try diet pills, wraps, and strict diets, but she would eventually gain back the small amounts of weight she lost

Gimmicks: Rachel would try diet pills, wraps, and strict diets, but she would eventually gain back the small amounts of weight she lost

On her blog, Rachel explained that she finally decided to lose weight when she found herself 'depressed' and 'out of breath doing what should have been simple tasks'. 

'I was tired of crying. I was tired of being lonely,' she wrote. 'I never wanted to make plans with friends, I had become antisocial. I wanted to be a better mom. A happier mom.'

Rachel also admitted that her grandmother suffered from, and eventually died from complications relating to obesity. 

When she started her weight loss journey in June 2015, Rachel was carrying 229lbs on her 5'5" frame.

Changing her life: In June 2015, Rachel became serious about her weight loss and started exercising and counting calories

Changing her life: In June 2015, Rachel became serious about her weight loss and started exercising and counting calories

Happier than ever: 'Surgery will most likely be in the cards some day but [I am] working on loving myself in the mean time,' she said of the loose skin on her body

Happier than ever: 'Surgery will most likely be in the cards some day but [I am] working on loving myself in the mean time,' she said of the loose skin on her body

The mother-of-two focused on calorie counting, eating healthy foods with proper portion control, and exercise, and this time she avoided any weight loss 'gimmicks'. 

Rachel insists that you don't need to join a gym to get fit, explaining that when she started she would often jog in place watching TV, run up and down hills while her children played, and do jumping jacks and lunges in her home.  

Now that she has lost a great deal of weight, Rachel has joined a gym so she can focus on strength training and gaining muscle.

Rachel has also found a way to balance healthy foods with her 'cheat meal', which she enjoys once a week. 

Balance: The mom said she has ditched her all or nothing attitude and now allows herself one 'cheat meal' a week  

Balance: The mom said she has ditched her all or nothing attitude and now allows herself one 'cheat meal' a week  

Making moves: Rachel would jog in place watching TV, run up and down hills while her kids played, and do jumping jacks and lunges in her home when she first started exercising

Making moves: Rachel would jog in place watching TV, run up and down hills while her kids played, and do jumping jacks and lunges in her home when she first started exercising

'I am focusing on balance, not the all or nothing mindset with food that I have struggled with for so long in the past,' she said. 

'One cheat meal won’t make you fat, just like one good meal won’t make you healthy!' she added.   

To stay motivated, she takes selfies and focuses on her progress compared to when she first started.  

'There are many ways to see “progress” happening, it’s not just about a number on a scale,' she wrote on her blog. 

Pumped up: Rachel has since joined a gym so she can focus on strength training and gaining muscle
Pumped up: Rachel has since joined a gym so she can focus on strength training and gaining muscle

Pumped up: Rachel has since joined a gym so she can focus on strength training and gaining muscle

Shut in: Rachel admitted that she never wanted to make plans with her friends before she lost the weight 

Shut in: Rachel admitted that she never wanted to make plans with her friends before she lost the weight 

Progress: Rachel, who shares photos of herself on Instagram, has more than 150,000 followers
Progress: Rachel, who shares photos of herself on Instagram, has more than 150,000 followers

Progress: Rachel, who shares photos of herself on Instagram, has more than 150,000 followers

The mom, who also posts pictures of her healthy meals along with her 'before' and 'after' photos, has more than 152,000 followers on Instagram. 

Rachel has been candid about how she is learning to embrace the loose skin that is left on her stomach, thighs and arms. 

'I don’t really “show” it in pictures, and get a lot of messages asking me how I have avoided having it,' she said of the loose skin. 'I haven’t. It’s there. I pretty much live in high-waisted bottoms which helps, but it’s still there.'

'If the only real negative side to becoming healthier is some loose skin then so be it,' she added. 'Surgery will most likely be in the cards some day but [I am] working on loving myself in the mean time.'

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