Yahoo Lifestyle 
Aussie chocolate addict drops 53kg and fulfils mum's dying wish
A sugar addict who binged on a block of chocolate daily has dropped 53kg after ditching the junk food.
Adelaide woman Mara Vasic used to weigh 131kg and was a size 24-26 but now she’s lost an incredible 53kg and is down six dress sizes.
The 28-year-old said she turned to comfort food as a way to cope when her mum was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018.
“Chocolate was my go-to, I’d have a block a day usually. I’d often have meals from fast food outlets and eat things like sweets, donuts and meat pies,” Mara said.
“Over time, I continued to get bigger and this broke my mum’s heart. As I kept piling it on I could see her stressing constantly about my health.”
The night before Mara’s mum passed away she told her how proud she was of her daughter after she had lost weight to be a bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding.
“The last conversation we had she told me how proud she is of me and how beautiful I looked and to keep going,” Mara said.
After trying different diets, weight loss pills and exercise plans in the hope of shedding some Mara decided to get a gastric sleeve in September 2019, after talking to her doctor.
While she said it changed her life, she added that her surgery was definitely not a ‘quick fix’ and she’s had to completely overhaul her diet and incorporate a strict exercise regime into her week to ensure she stays on track.
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Mara ditched her daily block-of-chocolate habit and fast food binges, and now focuses on eating a high-protein diet full of healthy lean meats, fruits and vegetables.
She’s also joined F45 where she works out five days per week and she bought herself a treadmill when the coronavirus hit, so she would have “no excuses”.
Mara said she feels healthier and happier than ever before with her partner Zarko by her side.
“At times when I can’t be bothered or I am just in a rut, I think of mum and making her proud,” she said.
“This will be what motivates me to stay on track for the rest of my life.
“Losing weight has changed my life, my body feels better, my knees and back do not hurt anymore.
“The best feeling is knowing I am making my mum proud for fulfilling one of her dying wishes to see me happy and healthy and the best version of myself.”
Before
Breakfast: Meat pie, a chocolate donut with a full fat ice coffee
Mid-morning Snack: Lollies, a chocolate bar and sometimes fruit
Lunch: A subway footlong, McDonalds burger meal or pasta
Dinner: Pasta, pizza or a chicken schnitzels
Dessert: Usually a whole block of chocolate
After
Breakfast: Poached eggs, granola or a smoothie
Mid-morning Snack: Mini protein bar, fruit or cheese and crackers
Lunch: Crispbread with smoked salmon and cream cheese or with ham, cheese and tomato
Afternoon snack: apple and nuts
Dinner: Home cooked dinners such as stews, soup and stuffed capsicum - mainly meat based meals with minimal carbs
Dessert (if applicable): Sometimes a small sweet treat under 100 calories
Reporting by Caters
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