After years of emotional eating, Christina Togher reached 22st (140kg) and struggled with basic daily activities like walking up a flight of stairs. Approaching her 30th birthday, she decided it was time to make a lasting change — and over the next 15 months, she lost an incredible 13st 7lbs (86kg), equivalent to the weight of a full-grown man, all without pills, injections, or surgery.
Christina, 31, from Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland, says she has always been a “bigger person,” and severe bullying during her youth caused crippling anxiety and a reliance on comfort eating. Even after temporarily dropping to 11st (70kg) at university, she regained the weight once she took a job as a chef, ultimately reaching 18st 12lbs (120kg) by March 2024.
Facing her milestone birthday, Christina enlisted the help of personal trainer Nicky Kearney, who visited her workplace. “I thought, ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’ and reached out,” she said. Nicky helped her assess her lifestyle, diet, and exercise habits, teaching her that the challenge wasn’t as insurmountable as she had imagined.
Christina began walking daily, counting calories, and following a structured food plan. She joined a gym, tackling weightlifting and strength training despite feeling intimidated during her first session. “I saw all these fit, muscly people and left in tears,” she recalls. With her trainer’s support, she returned and realized everyone was focused on themselves, which boosted her confidence.
Her consistent routine — five days of weight training, Stairmaster cardio, and 10,000–12,000 steps a day — combined with a diet of protein shakes, high-protein wraps, vegetables, and controlled meals, led to steady weekly weight loss of around 3lbs (1.4kg).
Christina now weighs 8st 7lbs (54kg), wears a size 8 in jeans, and size XS/S in tops. Beyond physical transformation, she has rebuilt her mental health, gained confidence, and repaired her relationship with food. She avoids takeaways, limits caffeine, and drinks alcohol only rarely.
While she has excess skin, Christina is planning cosmetic surgery in Dublin to remove it, with her trainer launching a GoFundMe to help cover the €10,000 (£8,819) cost. She says, “It would mean so much to get the surgery because it’s the last thing that makes me self-conscious. It would make me feel beautiful again.”
Christina’s story is a testament to the power of consistent exercise, smart nutrition, and seeking support to achieve lasting change.
