Obese student who lost 145lbs after being told she had a 'fat ass' has the last laugh by REJECTING the bullies who now want to date her 

• e-mail

A student who was labelled 'fat girl' by bullies before dropping 145 lbs (10 stone 7 lbs) has told how she's had the last laugh by rejecting the same men who now want to date her.

Emma Pope, 23, from San Marcos, Texas, was relentlessly bullied because of her weight and once, during a volleyball game, spectators chanted that she should get her 'fat ass off the court'.

She once weighed 315lbs (22 stone 7lbs) and wore a size 30 (UK 26), caused by eating large portions of pasta and pizza every day.

Emma (left) at the age of 15 when she was at her heaviest weight of 315lbs (22 stone 7lbs) and wore a size 30 (UK 26) and says she was relentlessly taunted by bullies at school

But after the bullying pushed her to breaking point, Emma began working out four times a week and learned to reduce her portion sizes.

Now Emma, who weighs 170 lbs (12 stone) and is a size 8 (UK 12), receives apologies from former classmates who used to torment her.

She even claims to have rejected bullies who have 'hit on her' since she underwent her incredible transformation.

Emma, a nursing student, explained: 'I was bullied a lot at school but I never told my parents. I bottled it all up and never said anything about the hurtful comments kids made, they were pretty awful to me.

Emma shows off her new trim physique. She is now a healthy size 8 (UK 12) after cutting down on huge portions of pizza and pasta and hitting the gym four times a week

The medical student strikes a pose in her gym gear. She said: 'Even after losing 60lbs (4 stone 4lbs) at the beginning of my weight loss guys treated me completely differently'

'I was referred to as "the fat girl" all the time, but the worst moment happened during a volleyball match, when I was hurled abuse at because of the outfit I was wearing.

'A bunch of guys yelled that I should get my "fat ass off the court" and crazy stuff, it got so bad they had to be escorted away by the police.

'In another incident, one guy asked me why my legs were so big and another classic quote I regularly received was that I had "such a pretty face for a fat girl".'

Emma added: 'Even after losing 60lbs (4 stone 4lbs) at the beginning of my weight loss guys treated me completely differently, it was unreal.

'I've had messages from guys telling me how sorry they are for what they said to me, it really shocks them to see me now.

 'I was bullied a lot at school,' says Emma (pictured at 15). 'I never told my parents. I bottled it all up and never said anything about the hurtful comments kids made, they were pretty awful'

Emma now. The 23-year-old is virtually unrecognisable after losing almost half her body weight and hitting the gym - and says she is stunned at the attention she's received

'I don't think they expected me to turn out this way and they regret being so horrible.

'I doubt they are apologising out the kindness of their heart, there's definitely an ulterior motive so with any attempts to flirt with me I reject them immediately.

'It's quite offensive that it took me losing weight for them to even consider speaking to me.

'I've had plenty of apology messages now, even one of the girls who used to call me fat got in touch wanting advice on how to lose weight.

'While the cruel comments were upsetting and difficult to deal with when I was younger, I just laugh it off now because I look and feel great.'

The student takes a snap mid-workout. Emma now exercises four times a week and eats a 'clean' diet of 2,000 calories a day to stay in shape - and is pursuing a career in medicine

Emma after dropping a total of 145lbs (10 stone 7 lbs). Although she used to  get upset about comments from bullies, she now laughs it off saying: 'I look and feel great'

Emma started losing weight at the age of 17, she cut out her daily pizza habit and within a year lost close to 40lbs (nearly 3 stone).

She continued her weight loss up until hitting her target weight this year.

Emma said: 'When you're a kid you don't pay attention to your diet, I played sports but then would always have pizza in the locker rooms after.

'I was way out of control with my portion sizes, I always ate too much and it was always cheese, pasta or bread.

'Before I would eat half a whole cheese pizza whereas now I won't eat more than a slice and have it with vegetables to fill me up.

'Before I was athletic as I could have been at 315lbs (22st 7), but now since losing weight I'm incredibly athletic and never dreamed I could be like this.'

'I told myself being overweight was part of who I was and who I would be forever.

'After deciding to change my life I had to learn to cope with my emotions in a healthy way, before I was definitely an emotional eater.'

Now she exercises four times a week and eats a clean diet of 2,000 calories a day.

Emma says her motivation to lose weight came from the embarrassment she suffered at school - alongside wanting to inspire her future hospital patients.

Emma added: 'After deciding to pursue a degree in the medical field I knew I had to lose weight.

'After I graduate, I want to be the best role model I can be and don't want to be the unhealthy person giving sick people advice about their lives.'