Real Life Weight Loss: How this woman lost 100lbs in 2 years (and gained muscle)

Anne-Marie became a bodybuilder after years of binge drinking and comfort foods

Brand New Me
(Image credit: Future)

 Anne-Marie, from Glasgow, Scotland, was a self confessed party girl. She would go on excessive nights out filled with overindulgence, which were  always followed by hangovers and terrible eating habits. She would sit and eat cheesy pasta, crisps, chocolate and microwave burgers.

Anne-Marie told Truly, as part of the channel's Brand New Me documentary series, said: "Eating that kind of diet, I felt lethargic, tired and couldn't be bothered to do anything. I just wanted to sleep and it made me feel horrific."

At her heaviest, Anne-Marie reached 260lbs and knew something had to change. Anne-Marie said: "I got to the point where I was just fed up being stuck in a body I hated, I began to go to the gym and started my journey." In just under two years Anne Marie lost an incredible 100lbs and found a brand new passion...bodybuilding.

Watch Anne-Marie's inspiring story here:

"Lifting weights made me feel amazing, I began to realise that a female body can be strong, even stronger than some men in the gym." Now, with her new body and mindset, Anne-Marie is pursuing her dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder and has already competed in five shows.

This new life also brought her love as she met her partner Darren, who was sitting watching her from the audience at her first ever bodybuilding show. Darren said: "She is my dream woman. Anne-Marie's work ethic is something I've never personally seen, it was one of the main reasons I fell in love with her."

Now Anne-Marie, feels confident, strong and has a new passion for life after changing her body.

deadlift in gym

(Image credit: Victor Freitas/Unsplash)

Resistance training, lifting weights in the gym or using your own bodyweight, the best resistance bands or best adjustable dumbbells at home, is a great way to change your body by adding lean muscle and stripping away fat. Building muscle alters your body composition, the ratio of muscle-to-fat in your body, making you fitter and stronger.

Muscle requires more oxygen than fat, so the body works harder to maintain it, raising your basal metabolic rate and burning more fat at rest. The more muscle you have, the easier you'll find it to burn fat while exercising. However, you'll need to increase your intake of lean protein if you're trying to lose weight while building muscle, according to studies. We recommend one of the best protein powders for weight loss.

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