Childcare worker, 45, drops five dress sizes WITHOUT strenuous exercise

A childcare worker who led an unhealthy diet for most of her life has dropped five dress sizes in an incredible body transformation.

Irene Roman, from Newcastle in New South Wales, used to binge on fast food such as McDonald’s and KFC, chocolate, cake, dips and cheeses and pasta and drink 1.25L of Coke Zero at least once a day.

Weighing 86 kilos at her heaviest, she wore size 18 clothing, endured knee and hip joint pains, always felt lethargic and unattractive and struggled with self-confidence.

Determined to get on top of her weight once and for all, the 45-year-old embarked on a weight loss journey where she shed 31 kilos without strenuous exercise.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the childcare worker – who now looks unrecognisable – revealed how she overcame her binge-eating habits without depriving herself of her favourite desserts.

The childcare worker  now looks unrecognisable after slimming down to a lean 55 kilos

Before and after: Childcare worker Irene Roman has dropped five dress sizes (right) in an incredible body transformation after she weighed 86 kilos at her heaviest (left)

Determined to get on top of her weight once and for all, the 45-year-old embarked on a weight loss journey where she shed 31 kilos without strenuous exercise

Determined to get on top of her weight once and for all, the 45-year-old embarked on a weight loss journey where she shed 31 kilos without strenuous exercise

What Irene used to eat before weight loss

  •  McDonald’s and KFC 
  • Crackers
  • Sweet biscuits
  • Cake
  • Chocolate
  • Dip and cheeses
  • Pasta
  • Breads
  • Hot chips
  • Chinese takeaway  
  • 1.25 litres of Coke Zero at least once a day

‘I’ve always been a chubby kid throughout my teenage years. I never felt comfortable in swimming or sporting activities,’ she said.

‘Having yo yo’d from my late teens onwards, I finally lost control and gained more weight over the last five to 10 years prior to losing weight. 

‘As low self esteem, lack of motivation and laziness crept up, eating seemed like an easy option and in turn overeating for no reason at all just for something to do.’

As her weight spiralled out of control, Irene said she struggled emotionally and physically.

‘I didn’t feel attractive and I hated shopping because nothing ever fitted properly,’ she said.

‘I had feelings of less self worth, no confidence socially, feeling low, unhappy, unattractive  and lonely. I felt more comfortable at home where I couldn’t be seen at my biggest and became a homebody turning down social invites.’

‘I was always tired and lethargic. Suffered a lot more knee and hip joint pains and I didn’t always think straight either.’

She embarked on a weight loss journey where she shed 31 kilos without strenuous exercise

She embarked on a weight loss journey where she shed 31 kilos without strenuous exercise

As her weight spiralled out of control, Irene said she struggled emotionally and physically

Irene now leads a healthy lifestyle

Weighing 86 kilos at her heaviest, she endured knee and hip joint pains, always felt lethargic and struggled with self-confidence (left at her heaviest, right after weight loss)

When she started working in childcare, Irene said she would always skip breakfast and begin binging on food between lunch time and dinner every day.

‘I had no breakfast. No set meal times. I would have snacks and if I had a proper meal, it was between lunch and bed time about 10.30pm,’ she said.

‘During my eating hours, I would eat junk food like sweet biscuits, cake, chocolate, dips and cheeses, pasta, breads, hot chips, Chinese takeaway and limited fruit and vegetable. A 1.25 litres of coke zero at least once a day – I was addicted.

‘I used to eat a lot of unhealthy high fat food. I would drive through McDonald’s to eat a burger meal, and would eat again at home for a second lunch. 

‘Dinner would be another round of binge eating with junk food, chocolate, and chips included. I was a big cheese eater too.’

Weighing 86 kilos at her heaviest, she wore size 18 clothing, endured knee and hip joint pains, always felt lethargic and unattractive and struggled with self-confidence

Weighing 86 kilos at her heaviest, she wore size 18 clothing, endured knee and hip joint pains, always felt lethargic and unattractive and struggled with self-confidence

Her turning point to lose weight once and for all came after her mother was tragically diagnosed with cancer in November 2017

Her turning point to lose weight once and for all came after her mother was tragically diagnosed with cancer in November 2017

What Irene’s day on a plate looks like now

BREAKFAST: Coffee before work

MORNING TEA: Piece of fruit 

LUNCH: Rice cakes with tomato, cheese, tuna (protein) or salad and chicken or soy and linseed ham salad sandwich

DINNER: Brown rice and beef or chicken stir fry or vegetable soups or fish with salad or vegetables.

Her turning point came after her mother was tragically diagnosed with cancer in November 2017. 

‘My mum was going through cancer treatment, going under the knife and seeing specialists constantly. For 12 months, she was continually sick with skin cancer and diabetes,’ she said. 

‘There was a lot of stress at the time, and I felt like the only thing I could control was my weight. This motivated me to take control of my life.’

Irene signed up to Slim By Nature – a program where Irene followed a simple, clean eating plan, combined with detox and fat burning regime.

‘I decided to start with a program and my weight started falling off. When people started to notice that I lost weight, I started feeling confident,’ she said.

‘I did two rounds of Slim By Nature’s 43 day detox and fat burning program, losing a total of 31kg and I have kept it off for over 18 months now.’

When she started working in childcare, Irene said she would always skip breakfast and begin binging on food between lunch time and dinner every day

Irene thanks her change in diet, discipline, and determination for her new and healthy lifestyle

Irene thanks her change in diet, discipline, and determination for her new and healthy lifestyle

Irene - who now weighs a lean 55 kilos - thanks her change in diet, discipline, and determination for her new and healthy lifestyle

Irene – who now weighs a lean 55 kilos – thanks her change in diet, discipline, and determination for her new and healthy lifestyle

Irene – who now weighs a lean 55 kilos – thanks her change in diet, discipline, and determination for her new and healthy lifestyle.

She now leads a healthier lifestyle, working out up to three times a week, taking part in different activities such as walking, running, bike riding, stationary bike, tennis or bounce aerobic classes.

And while she still doesn’t start her day with breakfast, Irene said she eats very healthy from lunch time to dinner.

‘I still don’t eat breakfast, however I make myself a cup of coffee and eat a fruit snack in the morning. Lunch would be chicken, a salad, or tuna,’ she said.

‘I now eat an apple for an afternoon snack, along with my tea – no more McDonald’s or KFC. Dinner is now a combination of meat, healthy minced bolognese with zucchini noodles.

‘I eat in smaller servings now, and occasionally eat two slices of vegetarian pizza wash down with lemon infused water for dinner. I still treat myself sometimes when I go out with my friends with a coffee and cake.’

For anyone who’s interested to lose weight but don’t know where to start, Irene said: ‘You’ve got to want it bad enough for it to happen.

‘Weight shouldn’t be an issue and it shouldn’t control us – we should control it.’