A woman who weighed almost 23 stone is unrecognizable after a devastating breakup motivated her to get the perfect ‘revenge body’.
Josie Varela, 33, from Los Angeles, California, was bullied all her life because of her size. She was picked on at school and was picked last for sports teams.
As an adult, she said she was rejected by men on dates and her friends were asked to dance at nightclubs while she stood on the sidelines.
While in an unhappy relationship, Josie’s coping mechanism involved comfort eating: ordering McDonald’s and Taco Bell four times a day and shamefully hiding the wrappers in her car.
At her heaviest in January 2018, Josie weighed 22kg and wore a size XXXXL, but after being dumped she was finally motivated to get a ‘revenge body’ and make her ex jealous.
Josie Varela, 33, from Los Angeles, California ordered McDonald’s and Taco Bell four times a day to the point where fast food workers knew her by first name
At her heaviest in January 2018, Josie weighed 22kg and wore size XXXXL
Today, she weighs 12.7 pounds, slips into a size medium and has found new love with Elias Jimenez, 31, whom she married last October.
Josie, who now works as a weight loss coach, said: ‘I grew up called ‘the fat kid’ and I was the last one picked for sports teams.
‘I used food as a comfort mechanism during my relationship – it was like my medicine. So after my relationship, I was heartbroken and started my weight loss journey. At first the “revenge body” was motivated, but I realized that I needed to get healthy.
‘I went to the gym every day to build muscle and then started running and cycling when Covid hit. Now I weigh 7 pounds, but I’ve found a good medium: I like to be active, I’m healthy, and I eat the foods I like.”
Josie grew up in a Mexican household where “food was everything” and she enjoyed large portions of food rich in carbohydrates and fats.
She was bullied so much that she became “numb with humiliation and shame,” as she explained: “My diet sucked – I snacked all day.
Josie said she was called ‘the fat kid’ at school and rejected by men on dates because of her size
She said she used food as a coping mechanism during a previous unhappy relationship
After weighing almost 23 stone before her weight loss journey (left), Jodie now weighs 12st 7lb (right) and said she has found a ‘good medium’
‘In the clubs or bars no one would take me dancing, otherwise a man would buy drinks for my friends and not for me.
If I went on blind dates, I would see the disappointed look on the guy’s face as soon as I arrived. Fast food became an important part of my life.
“The McDonald’s employees knew my name and order without me telling them.”
In January 2018, she started exercising and changed her diet: she started exercising outside while the gyms were closed due to the pandemic.
She also met her current husband Elias, a carpenter, who supported her during her transformation.
Josie said: ‘At that time I was focused on myself, I wasn’t worried about finding a man. But we had such a good connection.’
In January 2018, Jodie (pictured) started exercising and changed her diet: exercising outside when the gyms were closed due to the pandemic
Josie now works as a weight loss coach, inspiring others to embark on a ‘journey of self-love’
When Covid hit, Josie would take up running and cycling to build muscle mass. She said: ‘I enjoy being active, I am healthy and I eat the food I like’
Josie with her dad after losing 10 stone during the pandemic
In 2021, she reached her lowest weight of 11 pounds, meaning she had roughly halved her body weight.
Josie became a weight loss coach as soon as the gyms reopened, to help others.
She said: ‘I’m incredibly proud, but I grieve a lot for the woman I was and what I went through.
“It’s been a wild ride, and sometimes I forget what I’ve accomplished until I get a message from other women saying I’ve inspired them.
‘It goes deeper than just weight loss, it’s a journey to self-love. It’s not about the number on the scale, how many carbs you eat, or how often you go to the gym. It’s about putting yourself and your health first.’