by PHOTOS chronicling her massive 15th weight loss in a two-year time-lapse video.
At her heaviest, Leah Hope Mancuso, 35, weighed nearly 400 pounds and felt that every step was “a burden.”
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An eye-opening trip to Disneyland in 2022 made her realize she didn’t want to live like this anymore – and started her incredible weight loss journey.
The photographer showed her jaw-dropping transformation in a past video and revealed the diet and exercise secrets that helped her lose half her body weight.
Leah often resorted to junk food and unhealthy snacks as a way to feel full while continuing her busy lifestyle.
As she put on the pounds, she found herself becoming less and less active.
At her heaviest, Leah tipped the scales at 28.5 stone.
But she didn’t realize the full extent of the weight gain until she went on holiday to Disneyland with her sister and family.
“It was the hardest day I’ve ever wanted to enjoy a day at a theme park,” the photographer, from Scottsdale, Arizona, told What’s The Jam.
“Being an aunt was one of the greatest joys of my life, and I did not want to miss out on this experience with my nephew, so I went knowing that it would be difficult for me.
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“Within a few hours, I had a migraine, my legs hurt, my back hurt and I was sweating profusely.
“I took breaks as often as I could, but in the end I had to spend the last part of the day alone, sitting at a table with my eyes closed to manage the migraine.
“That night I felt silly thinking I could handle it and I knew I couldn’t continue down the path I was on.
“I didn’t want to live a life where a day at the supposed ‘happiest place on earth’ was my worst.”
When she came home from the trip in March 2022, she knew something had to change.
She said: “I lived a life where I started moving as little as possible because every step felt like a burden.
“I was becoming more and more uncomfortable in my body and I realized how difficult it was to go through my daily life at my size.”
GIVING CONTROL
Leah examined her eating and exercise habits and began making small changes to them.
“Most days the only time I left the house was to get whatever food I wanted that day,” she realized.
“I usually had a Starbucks most mornings – a Venti Caramel Macchiato with an extra drizzle of caramel, a blueberry muffin and a Danish.
“I would often take another meal for lunch or dinner, something like an In-N-Out burger, where I would get two orders of fries so I could eat one with my shoe and save one for a snack.
“I ate too frozen food often when I ate at home, easy things I could heat up like taquitos or burritos.”
I had such a limited life before because my size and ability held me back in so many ways.
I thought my life was easier before, that’s why I continued with the unhealthy patterns I created for myselfLeah Hope Mancuso
Leah weighed 398 pounds (28.4 stone) when she started her journey.
She said: “I started being mindful of what I was eating by writing it down in a food diary.
“After practicing mindfulness, I decided to take a little more control over my results and after six weeks I started tracking my calorie intake.
“I also started walking 10 minutes a day because I couldn’t do it at one time.
“But as I increased my endurance I was able to go from 10 minutes to 15, then 20, then 30.
“Then I added swimming to the mix and eventually strength training, playing pickleball and hiking as well.
“About a year into my journey, I hired a personal trainer who I have been working with regularly ever since.”
‘Life is so much better’
Leah currently weighs 185lbs, (13.2 stone).
She said: “Everyday eating now looks like scrambled eggs with cheese mixed in and fruit or poached eggs on a piece of sourdough bread with butter and coffee with collagen, cream and sugar for breakfast.
“Lunch is a bowl of cottage cheese, with maple syrup to sweeten, granola and fruit.
“Another lunch I often have is an open sandwich with ham or tuna on sourdough.
“For dinner, I usually have chicken and potatoes or pasta with chicken sausage and a vegetable like broccoli or bell peppers.
Leah’s diet before and after her weight loss
BEFORE her fateful trip to Disneyland, Leah was often overweight on junk food and would only leave the house to pick up the food she wanted.
His diet consisted of:
- Breakfast: Starbucks Venti Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel drizzle, blueberry muffin and pastry
- Lunch: In-N-Out burger and chips
- Dinner: frozen taquitos or burritos
- Snack: leftover chips from takeout
Leah started keeping a food diary and trying to eat mindfully.
His diet now includes:
- Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with cheese and fruit or poached eggs on sourdough bread with butter, plus coffee with collagen, cream and sugar
- Lunch: Cottage cheese bowl, with maple syrup, granola and fruit or an open sandwich with ham or tuna
- Dinner: Chicken and potatoes or pasta with chicken sausage and broccoli or bell peppers
- Snack: Protein bar or shake
- Dessert: ice lolly or berries with whipped cream and chocolate chips
“A snack will usually be a protein bar or shake.
“I still love to have something sweet like a popsicle or berries with whipped cream and chocolate chips to end the day!”
Leah claims that she now feels good, healthy and capable in her new body.
She said: “I had such a limited life before because my size and ability held me back in so many ways.
“I thought my life was easier before, that’s why I continued with the unhealthy patterns I created for myself.
“But it wasn’t easier, it was just smaller.
“Life is much better now. Not because I’m closer to society’s standard of beauty, but because I have so much more of what matters.”
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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