“Trolls say I look ‘vile’ but I’m proud of my muscles”
Formerly obese Jasmin Hallett loves her super-fit figure after losing 9st – and won’t let cruel comments get in the way of her new bodybuilding passion…
Jasmin Hallett used to be overweight and unhappy, but now she is proud of her bulging muscles and six-pack after transforming her body with diet and exercise.
Three years ago, Jasmine, 29, weighed 19st 7lbs, but after losing 9st, she began entering bodybuilding competitions.
But while Jasmine maintains she’s now healthier than ever, online trolls have devastatingly branded her “ugly” and “disgusting”.
Jasmin, from Plymouth, Devon, says, “Before, I couldn’t even walk up the stairs without getting out of breath. Now, I’m in the best shape of my life, so I was gutted when I saw what people were saying about me.
“Someone had stolen photos from my Instagram page and put them in a Facebook group next to a picture of me when I was bigger, saying I looked unhealthier now. The post had over 500 comments agreeing, with people saying I look ‘terrible’ and ‘ill’.
“It was really hurtful, but I won’t let it stop me taking part in more bodybuilding competitions and posting pictures online of my journey. I’m proud of how I look.”
Jasmin was a healthy size 12 in her teens, but when she went to university in 2009, she picked up bad habits.
EMBARRASSED
She says, “I drank a lot of cider and ate lots of carbs, like pasta and pizza. Without doing much exercise, I piled on the weight.”
By the time she was 25, Jasmin was struggling with issues caused by her size 22 body.
She says, “I was suffering from backache and my doctor told me that it was because at 5ft 4 and over 19st, I was carrying too much weight for my frame and was classed as obese.
“I struggled to stay on my feet all day at my job on a make-up counter at a department store, and suffered from terrible back pain and would get out of breath easily. I hated having my photo taken and would cover up in floaty plus-size dresses. On the outside, I came across as confident and bubbly, but really I was very unhappy about my size and constantly compared myself unfavourably to others.”
In December 2015, after hearing that a friend had lost weight through Slimming World, Jasmin signed up.
“I didn’t go to the meetings as I was too embarrassed,” she admits, “Instead, I followed the recipes – including healthy soups and pastas – at home. I lost 4lbs in the first week and it felt amazing.”
Over the next six months, Jasmin lost 4st.
She says, “My back problems cleared up and I had more energy. I didn’t have to shop in plus-size stores and my confidence soared.”
Jasmin also joined a gym, where she did cardio. She set up an Instagram account to document her weight loss and, at first, only received positive comments.
She says, “All the support really kept me going as people told me I looked great and healthy. Then, a year into my dieting, a friend showed me how to use the weight machines and I started to feel strong and more energised.”
EXCESS SKIN
By the end of the second year, Jasmin had lost 7st. Then, in January 2018, Jasmin, now the manager of an underwear store, decided to enlist the help of a personal trainer and began a new diet focused on macro-nutrients – which is very high in protein.
She says, “My dad had been a bodybuilder when I was younger and I’d always loved the idea of following in his footsteps, but my weight loss meant I had some excess skin, so I didn’t think I’d be able to.
“But my trainer encouraged me to enter a competition anyway and, last June, I began a strict diet and exercise regime that meant I ate five meals a day and went to the gym six times a week. It helped my skin tighten a bit as my muscles grew, but the excess on my stomach will never completely go away.”
During training last June, Jasmin met her boyfriend, teacher Ben, 29.
She says, “He reached out on Instagram and we got chatting. He told me he had a sports degree and was really into his fitness, so we started going to the gym together.”
IGNORANT
In November, Jasmin competed in a competition that saw her go through a number of poses while wearing a bikini. By then, she was a slender 9st 2lbs and a size 6-8.
She says, “The judges said I looked amazing and I came fifth. I can’t describe how wonderful the buzz of competing was – I knew immediately I’d want to do it again, I was so proud.
“I’ve put on a bit of weight now and weigh nearly 11st, but I will probably lose some during prep for the next competition.”
In January, a friend of Jasmin’s warned her about photos of her that been posted on a Facebook group called “Discuss. Debate. Rant!” with the message, “Am I the only one who thinks she looks much better in the first pic?” Underneath, there were nearly 500 comments.
“Some were supportive,” Jasmin explains, “But a lot of others said I looked ‘terrible’ and ‘ill’. One even called me ‘vile’ and another compared me to the stretchy toy doll Stretch Armstrong.
“When I saw them, my heart sank and I cried. I started to doubt myself and my hard work. But I spoke to Ben about it and he reassured me. He told me I was beautiful and to ignore the negativity.
“I messaged the person who posted them on Facebook, but she just laughed at me. I was really upset, but I had no choice but to ignore it. These people don’t know my story and they’re ignorant about bodybuilding.
“Maybe I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, but my muscles have brought me a lot of happiness and confidence. I still get negative comments on my pictures, but I get a lot of positive ones, too. I won’t let trolls stop me posting about my body and I plan on competing again this year.
“I feel amazing and Ben loves the way I look. He’s not intimidated by my muscles. I don’t care if other people don’t like them – I’ll never let trolls bring me down.”
Closer’s nutritionist, Juliette Kellow, says, “If you’re overweight and want to diet, it’s always best to see a doctor to check you don’t have any underlying health issues and then follow a healthy eating plan that aims for gradual weight loss. When it comes to extreme sports like bodybuilding, it’s important you seek the advice of a qualified nutritionist who will make sure you’re getting the right balance of nutrients in your diet.”