A woman who was so overweight that she "broke furniture" and "couldn't fit into plane seats" has revealed how she would devour upwards of 6,500 calories a day.
However, after a huge wakeup call which saw her lose just under 23 stone, she "feels like a new woman". When 34-year-old Jessica Ferro, who described herself as "morbidly obese", saw her father having a fatal heart attack, she struggled to give him CPR due to her size. It was that horrifric moment that triggered her life-changing transformation.
Worried she would follow the same fate, she knew she needed to do something drastic. At her heaviest, the marketing manager from Melbourne, Australia, weighed over 36 stone, and standing at 6ft tall, she suffered from high blood pressure, breathing problems and constant back and joint pains.
Before her incredible weight loss journey, Jessica could easily "finish a McDonald's dinner box" by herself, eat two large pizzas and "be hungry again in an hour." The Aussie also admitted that she "hated" her body, and struggled with anxiety and depression.
"There were minor incidents that first triggered my weight loss journey like breaking furniture, being told I wasn't good enough because of my size, not being able to find clothes that fit, and being ridiculed on planes for not fitting in a seat," she explained.
Despite these struggles, it was losing her dad that triggered the lifestyle change. "He passed away from a massive heart attack in front of me. I tried desperately to revive him when he'd fallen out of bed but trying to move 130 kilos of unconscious weight and then perform CPR was one of the hardest things I've had to do.
"I was so unfit; I was sweating and hyperventilating trying to pump my dad's chest to revive him as the emergency assistant was trying to calm me down and give me directions on the phone. That day changed me for good," she recalled.
Jessica said that her father didn't drink or smoke, and nor did he have any unhealthy habits, "except his love of food". Yet he too struggled with obesity his whole life. Because of his lifestyle, she thinks her dad would still be alive today if he had "made a more active effort to control his high blood pressure and weight."
Not wanting to be like her dad, Jessica added: "I swore I would do everything I could to be the healthiest and best version of myself from that point onwards." Because of her size, Jessica was able to have gastric bypass surgery, after living her whole life hating how she looks.
"I was so morbidly obese when I jumped on the scales back when I started my weight loss journey, they maxed out. I hated who I saw staring back at me in the mirror, how helpless I felt, and the restrictions on my life because of my weight. Men would tell me 'You're not skinny enough' or 'Sorry, but I don't date fat chicks'. My lower back and knees would constantly be in a state of pain."
She admitted she "didn't take the easy option" by having the surgery, and that "anyone that has been overweight or obese knows the weight didn't pile on for weeks and you've probably tried to lose the weight for years." Since the surgery, she had a further operation to remove the saggy skin she was left with, and committed to a fitness and healthy diet routine.
Jessica opened up about just how unhealthy her past diet really was. She explained: "I used to hide food in my room or in my drawers at work or go through a drive-thru on my way home and have a meal before dinner. If I had to guess, I wouldn't be surprised if my calorie intake was 4500-6500+ calories a day. Now, I sit comfortably around 12.5 stone and it has taken me roughly five years to get to this point."
Now she has lost nearly 23 stone, Jessica has documented the impressive weight loss, and even shared she is competing in a bodybuilding competition, something she "never thought in a million years" she would do. She added: "I am proud of what I've achieved and I honestly do love inspiring others on their journey but I also feel regret I waited so long to start really living.
"It's only now that I realise how much my weight affected my energy, mood, confidence, and willingness to engage in activities or even go out with friends. I appreciate my life so much more now and I can't begin to explain the massive difference in energy I have compared to before.
"Every aspect of my life has changed. Emotionally I'm happier and believe I deserve that happiness. My father lost his life because of his poor health and I don't want to ever put my family through that. I know he's looking down, encouraging me and proud of what I've achieved."
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