‘Look, Daddy, she’s fat’
Our showcase of the weird and wonderful world that is Truly. This issue, meet Laura Calbert, who transformed herself after an innocent child’s comment
At the age of 26, you expect to be in your prime.
Fit, healthy and loving life, whatever path you’ve chosen.
You certainly don’t expect to have a heart attack.
But that’s what happened to Laura Calbert.
At 29st 1lb, her weight was literally killing her. Laura says, ‘I grew up being the biggest child. I was definitely considered overweight. ‘Through school,
I was still the biggest. Through college, I was still the biggest.
‘My diet consisted of a lot of rich and fatty foods, a lot of fast foods, not a lot of vegetables. ‘There were many different things that would trigger my overeating and my binge eating. ‘Being overweight really affected my confidence.’
By her mid-20s, Laura, of Georgia, US, was depressed, and being overweight caused her other health issues. ‘When I weighed 29st 1lb, I felt stuck, I felt lost, I felt sad inside,’ says Laura.
‘I was pre-diabetic,
I had high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
‘When I had my heart attack, I was definitely in shock.
‘You’re always like, “that’s not going to happen to me”, but it definitely does and can happen.’
But it was the words of a small child who spotted
Laura in a supermarket, six months later, that finally made her change her ways.
‘There was a little girl in there with her father. She looked at me and she said, “Look Daddy, she’s fat.”
‘It was the straw that broke the camel’s back,’ Laura says.
After that encounter, Laura focused on a healthy, protein-packed diet and hitting the gym.
She lost an amazing 15st 7lb in under three years.
She even worked out in a back brace following a car accident!
Laura says, ‘Losing weight is definitely more mental than it is physical.
‘If you’re not willing to transform your mind, then it’s a continuous uphill battle.
‘When I transformed my mind, everything fell into place, it became a true lifestyle change.’
From day one, Laura shared her journey on social media. ‘That actually helped me, as you never know how many people are supporting and motivating you,’ she says.
Now, Laura, 33, is helping other women achieve their weight-loss goals through her business, Gettinfit2live.
She’s even thankful to that little girl in
From day one, Laura shared her journey on social media
the supermarket.
‘If I knew that toddler today, I would definitely say thank you,’ says Laura.
‘She was the catalyst that kind of pushed me to be the Laura I am today.
‘And she doesn’t know it, but it definitely was a blessing.
‘My confidence is completely different. I’m proud of myself and all of my achievements.
‘But what I did is not a superpower – what I did, anybody can do as well.’