They called me a "whale" at school, but I just lost half my body weight (9 photos)
Just a couple of years ago, Jessica Turner weighed 105 kilograms, and her classmates called her a "whale." Tired of the ridicule, the British woman took charge of herself. The 20-year-old law student told how she managed to lose 53 kilograms on her own. 
As Jessica herself says, she was always plump, but her weight began to grow by leaps and bounds when she switched to unhealthy food at school. The lack of physical activity also played a role. As a result, the Caterham, Surrey resident weighed 105kg at a height of 161cm. 
The girl remembers how classmates teased her about her weight. Some called her “too slow” when she climbed the stairs, while others called her a “whale”.
When the pandemic began, Jessica decided to change. Then the 15-year-old schoolgirl began to work out at home every day, watching videos from fitness gurus Joe Wicks and Chloe Ting. She gave up junk food and focused on consuming enough protein. 
The student now weighs 52 kg, and former classmates ask her out on dates, but are rejected.
Jessica shared: “I’ve been chubby my whole life and struggled with my weight. Until that moment, I didn’t know what body confidence was. Food was my comfort. I didn’t like going out because of my low self-esteem. I would look in the mirror and never really feel beautiful. I was bigger than my mom and most of my family. I was so unhappy that I didn’t care what I ate.”
“I was made fun of by my classmates. I never felt like anyone thought I was attractive. I realised that a lot of guys only respect girls who they think are pretty.” 
“During Covid, I thought, ‘I have an opportunity to be better and I have a lot of time on my hands.’ It all started with home workouts on YouTube and learning about nutrition, watching Joe Wicks and Chloe Ting. I was hooked on the process and once you start seeing results, it becomes easier. I was 225 pounds so my health was at risk.” 
“My old classmates are following me now. It’s a bit weird and scary because they barely even noticed me before. Guys try to reach out to me but I’m like, ‘No, I still remember what you did.’”
“I haven’t had a long-term relationship but I’m career-oriented,” Turner says. “I’ve gained confidence. If I hadn’t gone through the weight loss journey, I wouldn’t have gone to university and studied law. People treat me 100% differently, even on the street. No one used to hold the door for me, now they do it all the time.” 
Jessica favors a high-protein diet with minimal junk food, but encourages people trying to lose weight not to be afraid of food.
"You can achieve anything you want if you're willing to take the plunge and admit that change is necessary. After losing the weights, I was much smaller, but I had loose skin on my arms, legs, and especially my inner thighs. It wasn't until I started lifting weights that I began to strengthen my muscles and build muscle mass." 
"I try to eat at least five fruits and vegetables every day. My goal is to get enough protein. I do this by exceeding the recommended 2,000 calories. Don't be afraid to eat. You can reach your goals without starving yourself. I focus on eating a balanced diet that helps me with my workouts." 
