by A busy mother of two who will lose more than half her body weight shared her weight loss tips and the ‘small goals’ she set for herself.
Danielle Hutchinson lost a shocking 14st after being told she was too heavy to ride in an emergency helicopter when her daughter was taken to hospital.
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The busy mum-of-two said she had been overweight all her adult life – weighing 23 stone and a size 26.
Danielle, 32, has been refused entry to roller coaster rides and has been forced to ask for seat belt extenders on planes because she is obese.
However, it was during a family emergency in December 2022 that she reached a turning point and decided to make a major change in her lifestyle.
Danielle Nevaeh’s four-year-old daughter was unable to breathe during an asthma attack and doctors decided to send an air ambulance to fly her to a specialist hospital.
The team asked for Danielle’s weight in advance to ensure she was able to travel with her daughter on the flight.
However, the mum-of-two was “heartbroken” when she was told her weight meant it would be too dangerous to accompany Nevaeh on the helicopter – and she would have to drive to hospital instead.
Danielle, who lives in Norwich, Connecticut, USA, said this moment was her turning point, prompting her to lose a few pounds and overhaul her diet.
The child therapist used weight loss injections for the first six months before relying entirely on diet and exercise the following year until she lost an incredible 200 pounds.
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Now weighing 125 pounds and wearing a size four (UK size 8), Danielle said she doesn’t recognize her old self.
‘A TURNING POINT’
Danielle said: “I was overweight almost all my adult life.
“But when I couldn’t be with my daughter during her hour of need in the helicopter, I realized when I was driving, if I don’t start putting myself first, I can’t prioritize my children either.
“My daughter has asthma and had an episode. We don’t really know what caused it, she just had real difficulty breathing.
“They wanted her to get to hospital as quickly as possible but the nearest regular hospital didn’t have the machines they needed so they had to fly to this specific hospital .
“Before they came, they told me there was a weight restriction in the helicopter so they made me go on the scales and told me the combination of my weight, the pilot and the medical personnel was too much – dangerous.
“It was a big shock. My husband had to stay with my son and my daughter had to go alone in the helicopter.
“It was a big turning point. It was heartbreaking to see her fly alone.”
‘SMALL GOALS’
Instead of turning to her usual coping mechanism with food, Danielle said her only focus in the months that followed was on changing her diet and lifestyle.
Danielle said: “I stayed with her in hospital for the week and when we got home, I took everything out of the fridge and started researching healthier eating habits.
“I saw results quite quickly. I started making small changes like every morning on the way to work I would normally have breakfast but now I was making a healthier breakfast at home.
“I was cutting soda out of my diet, reducing portion sizes and increasing my step count. I was trying to do one thing at a time. I set myself small achievable goals so I could see progress .”
danielle diet tips
DANIELLE shared what a typical day of eating would look like before and after her weight loss journey.
diet before weight loss
- Breakfast: Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, coffee with lots of sugar
- Lunch: Pizza, pasta or McDonald’s
- Dinner: Pasta, noodles
- Snacks: Crisps, sweets
Current diet
- Breakfast: protein coffee
- Lunch: Protein and vegetables
- Dinner: Protein and vegetables
- Snacks: Eggs, nuts, sugar-free pudding, protein ice cream
In addition to losing hundreds of pounds over the next year, Danielle began to see other victories in her life – other than the number that was falling off the scales.
Danielle said: “I used to get up and think about food.
“I kept seeing non-scale victories through my weight loss. One of my most memorable moments was when one of my kids hugged me and their hands were able to touch each other behind my back .
“I couldn’t ride roller coasters at amusement parks, I needed a seat belt on planes, I could never cross my legs and now I can. I still notice things like this every day.
“It’s hard to believe how far I’ve come. I’m still amazed when I walk past a shop mirror.”
Danielle also began sharing her weight loss journey on TikTok, gathering a massive audience of 130,000 followers where she documents meal prep ideas and home workouts to inspire others.
HELPING HAND
The mother’s incredible weight loss left about 10 pounds of loose skin around her stomach, which will cost $9,000 to remove during surgery.
Danielle said: “I’m trying to get the loose skin off my belly. My insurance has turned me down three times.
“I’ve been prescribed medication for the rashes I’m getting as a result.
How to lose weight safely
Losing weight should be a long-term commitment to healthier living, rather than any drastic measures.
NHS tips – which can be taken slowly – include:
- Be active for 150 minutes a week – you can break this up into shorter sessions
- Try to get your 5 a day – 80g of fresh, tinned or frozen fruit or vegetables will count as 1 portion
- Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds, or 0.5 to 1kg, per week
- Read food labels – green color coded products are often a healthier choice than amber and red
- Swap sugary drinks for water – if you don’t like the taste, add lemon or lime slices to taste
- Cut down on foods high in sugar and fat – start by swapping sugary grains for whole grain alternatives
- Share your weight loss plan with someone you trust – they can help cheer you up when you’re having a bad day
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“It is very uncomfortable and in the way when I was exercising. And it looks unattractive.
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“I hope that I can raise what I can to help pay for the surgery.”
You can donate to Danielle’s fundraiser here.
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