A mum who dropped an incredible 40kg has been dubbed Benjamin Button as the weight loss has made her look 10 years younger.
Lyndal Wimalasekera's self-esteem was at an all-time low after reaching her heaviest weight of 18st – while her size 22 clothes were getting tight.
The 46-year-old mum-of-one from Adelaide, South Australia, has since dropped a whopping 6st 4lbs and now wears a size 10-12.
Lyndal said sealising she was heavier than when she was pregnant with son Aiden, now 11, was her "wakeup call" which caused her to ditch her near-daily drive throughs and late-night snacking habits.
The office admin assistant said: “I was always the tallest and largest ‘little girl’ most of my life.
"I remember thinking that I was just big boned, and that’s how my life would be.
“In my late teens and twenties, I was up and down with dieting and exercise, so my weight fluctuated a lot.
“When I was 18, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which changed a lot of my life. I would turn to food as part of an emotional eating pattern that lasted for many years.
“It also meant I could not do exercise due to my diagnosis.
“In November 2019, I was at my sister’s 40th birthday and felt fed up with myself.
“It was a dress up party, and I wanted to be wonder woman, but I resigned to being Mia from Pulp Fiction as that’s all I could fit into.
“I also used to snap at everyone and was always really agitated. I knew I needed a change.”
Lyndal, who is married to project manager husband Aruna, 53, said she was addicted to going through the drive-throughs of her local takeaways and would often succumb to late-night cravings.
But after joining weight watchers in 2019, the mum was able to get the guidance she needed to help slim down.
She now feels she can now maintain her new weight for the rest of her life.
Being 40kg lighter, Lyndal often attracts compliments from friends and family who tell her she looks at least "10 years younger" thanks to her weight loss.
She said: “I’d eat everything in sight. I would be driving home for dinner and get a burger on the way.
“I’d walk past the panty and just open the door to mindlessly eat whatever was available.
“I love cheese, so it was very easy to eat a wheel of brie in one sitting. I’d love to have large hot chips whenever I could too.
“It was such mindless eating, and the quantities were so excessive.
“After joining weight watchers workshops for their in-person meetings, I’ve never looked back.
“I really wanted to lose weight in a way that I could maintain for the rest of my life without restricting everything I loved.
“It’s funny, but people have actually told me I look much younger now and I’ve even been called Benjamin Button.”
After turning her life around and living a healthier lifestyle, Lyndal says she feels happier than ever before and is excited to see what the future holds.
She added: “I have never felt better in my whole life. I feel alive, like I have blood pumping though my body.
“I’ve always been a really positive person and feel like that has kicked up a notch.
“I still have an odd crappy day, but I feel like I can recover from these quicker than I used to.
“I am a better mum and wife, and for me, that is one of the best parts about losing weight and creating a healthy lifestyle.”
BEFORE:
Breakfast: - Toast with jam and peanut butter and a McMuffin on the way to work
Mid-morning Snack: Chocolate, croissant and chips
Lunch: Chinese chicken with rice or focaccia with salami and cheese
Afternoon snack: Chips washed down with a coke no sugar
Dinner: Stir fry but a massive serve with a mountain of rice or curry with loads of rice
Dessert: Lots of ice cream
AFTER:
Breakfast: Oats, apple, no sugar maple and cinnamon or a breakfast slice made with strawberries and almonds
Mid-morning Snack: Snack box with a variety of sliced veggies and sometimes homemade dip
Lunch: Large salad with Pearl Barley, Salmon and miso dressing
Afternoon snack: Chocolate protein bar
Dinner: Meal prepped curry or stir fry with protein
Dessert: Yoghurt or sugar free chocolate
