A 50-year-old woman named Donna McCaulsky has revealed she dropped from a size 30 to a 12 in about 18 months thanks to a milkshake and soup diet that was invented in the 1980s.
McCaulsky is from south-east London, she chose not to resort to a weight loss jab, also rejecting a gastric sleeve surgery.
Rather, the 50-year-old, who weighed 25 stone 3lbs (159kg) at her heaviest, decided to try the historic diet which she found out about on TikTok.
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To her, it remains the ‘best decision’ she has ever made.
The now-viral woman made the Cambridge 1980s diet a part of her routine, as the plan was created originally in the 1980s, as per a Daily Mail report.
It involves replacing meals with calorie-controlled shakes, soups, bars, and snacks.
The South London native also had one proper meal each day and a year and a half on, she weighs just 13 stone (82.5kg).
To Donna McCaulsky, she feels as though she’s ‘walking on air’.
‘It’s absolutely surreal — I bought a size 12 dress in December,’ she said.
‘I haven’t bought a mini dress in years, and now I feel like I have so much more choice.
‘I don’t have to shop in plus-size shops anymore, and I feel like I can wear whatever I like. It’s like I have freedom now.’ ‘I don’t regret turning down the surgery, I’ve now made a change for life and it was the best decision.’
Ms McCaulsky revealed that in 2020, she had a GP high BMI of 45.4 and was suggested to adopt a gastric sleeve, but turned it down because of concerns about its side effects in blood clots, gallstones and infection.
Nonetheless, her health started to dwindle that same year, and she suddenly struggled to swallow, as her throat ‘randomly’ closed up, often leaving her in pain.
‘Doctors said it wasn’t a specific condition, but I was told to lay off certain things like caffeine, alcohol, and sugar because it could make it worse,’ she said.
McCaulsky revealed she was terrified at the time and feared suffocating in her sleep, which could lead to chronic insomnia.
She stated that she would ride a night bus from 9 pm to 4 pm just to ‘occupy my mind.’
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‘I could either lie awake or get out, and sitting up on the bus made me breathe better,’ she said.
‘I was still going to work, but my friends and family were concerned for me. My lack of sleep made me put on weight.’
The 50-year-old woman also struggled to walk, and the pain ultimately caused her to gain more weight.
In 2022, Ms. McCaulsky was diagnosed with lichen planus, which is an autoimmune condition that can affect the mouth and throat.
She was prescribed steroids to help manage her condition, but believes it played a big part in her weight gain, in addition to her “constant snacking.”
“I ate healthily at meal times—rice, vegetables, and fish—but I would graze a lot,” she explained. “I love nuts, but I’d eat a whole packet at a time, and chocolate—I never limited myself.”
By 2023, her weight had reached 25 stone 3 lbs (159 kg), and she was often left in constant pain.
“I just couldn’t believe I’d gotten to that weight… It was the heaviest I’ve ever been. It was a wake-up call,” she said.
In May 2023, the 50-year-old woman began researching diet plans and came across The 1:1 Diet from the 1980s on TikTok, as well as a coach for support.
McCaulsky has managed to turn her weight status around and has received loads of congratulatory messages on social media.
The diet has also been heavily praised on the internet, with some calling it “superior to” weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Ms. McCaulsky saw results quickly and lost four pounds in her first week. “I was surprised I didn’t crave snacks,” she said. Now weighing 13 stone (82.5 kg), she’s gone from a size 30 to a size 12.
“Turning 50 last year and being this size was the best birthday present,” she said. Her goal weight is 11 stone (70 kg), and she’s confident she’ll maintain her loss. “It’s all about consistency,” she advises others. “You’re never too old to make a change.”
The 50-year-old woman’s weight loss journey is one that many young and old people alike have begun to adopt as they aim to get back in shape to regain confidence and pride in their bodies.
