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Bride's secret weapon: I lost 20kg in nine months after years of over-eating - here's the exact diet I follow to keep it off for good
Bride's secret weapon: I lost 20kg in nine months after years of over-eating - here's the exact diet I follow to keep it off for good

Daily Mail​

time15-07-2025

  • Health
  • Daily Mail​

Bride's secret weapon: I lost 20kg in nine months after years of over-eating - here's the exact diet I follow to keep it off for good

A young woman has shared how she shed an impressive 20kg in the nine months before her dream wedding - before losing a further 15 and keeping it off for good. Bella Moro, a Sydney entrepreneur, had struggled with her weight and relationship with food since she was 12 and spiralled through seemingly endless cycles of obsessive dieting, binge eating and self-hate. Despite being an active, self-confessed 'tomboy' as a tween, when Bella hit puberty her weight ballooned and she was diagnosed with insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. This kicked off a carousel of medical appointments, diets, naturopaths and food restrictions, all while dealing with severe hormonal acne and plummeting self-esteem. Growing up in an Italian household, Bella was met with a conflict: food was both a passion and a daily battleground. 'Everything revolved around pasta, bread and potatoes. I had to tell my mum to stop cooking for me at one point because I was trying to take control of my health,' Bella told FEMAIL. 'At family events people would shove food in my face and saying no felt like I was doing something wrong.' Despite periods of significant weight loss over the years, by the end of 2022, when Bella was 24, she tipped the scales at 85kg - her heaviest weight yet and one deemed unhealthy for her petite frame. Before and after: A young woman has shared how she shed an impressive 20kg in the nine months before her dream wedding - before losing a further 15 and keeping it off for good She no longer recognised herself and knew it was time to make a change. 'I was the biggest I had ever been in my life, I put off my wedding and I knew if I didn't do something drastic I wouldn't walk down the aisle or have my dream of being a mum one day,' she said. 'All I could think about was my next meal, I couldn't control my hunger and my thoughts. It was always about the next meal, all I would crave was carbs and I was never full. 'I could eat a whole meal and be hungry an hour later and the weight just kept stacking on. It was mind numbing, I could barely focus on anything else in my life and it was affecting my relationship and my business.' It was on a trip to Port Douglas with her sister that she made a life-changing decision. Her sister had just undergone a gastric sleeve surgery, had found love and was absolutely glowing with confidence. 'I want some of that,' she recalled saying at the time. Within a week she'd quit her $100,000 a year job, booked gastric sleeve surgery for herself and started plans for a total life overhaul - including launching a new dog care business born out of her side hustle. The surgery was a success but her recovery encompassed physical, mental, and emotional aspects. For the first three months post-surgery, she had to relearn how to eat as she progressed from liquid meals to toddler-sized purées, before eventually reintroducing solid food. For the first time in her life, her body rejected processed food and sugar, triggering physical reactions when she tried to overeat. Her portion sizes shrank. So did the inner noise. 'The surgery created a clear physical feedback loop - overeating or eating certain foods (like cake or processed snacks) led to sickness or a sugar rush,' Bella explained. 'This has resulted in greater awareness and control over my food choices and quantity.' As for why Bella chose this route over weight loss injections like Ozempic and Mounjaro? 'This was a permanent solution after years of unsuccessful diets and quick fixes,' she said. 'I wanted a lasting change without reliance on medication and I'd received referrals and encouragement from others who had the procedure which played a large role in my decision.' Nine months later, Bella walked down the aisle at her dream wedding 20kg lighter. 'I definitely felt and looked my absolute best. It was extra special as well because I was able to fit into my mum's wedding dress that I got redone from the 90s to be more modern,' she said. 'I look back on the photos and the wedding video captured and absolutely love every single one of them because I loved the way that I looked; without the surgery I definitely don't think I would have walked down the aisle that year or maybe ever at all.' By the one year mark post-surgery, she had lost over 30kg. Shortly after the wedding she achieved another of her dreams with the birth of a healthy baby boy; she gained 15kg during pregnancy and again managed to lose the weight with ease. 'The weight started to fall off in those first few weeks postpartum, but I was also mindful not to fall into old habits,' she said. 'I focused on fuelling my body properly, moving it daily with walks, and getting back into work which brought structure, joy, and purpose back into my life.' Her confidence had skyrocketed. She started showing up on camera, proudly becoming the face of her brand MyCavoodle - her side hustle turned boutique dog product business that now turns over an incredible $1.1million annually. Despite being kept busy as a mum and entrepreneur, Bella has kept the weight off and is fitter and healthier than ever before. 'I used to binge eat out of boredom or stress - constantly clock-watching in corporate,' she said. 'Now I'm running a business I'm obsessed with, juggling a baby, and barely have time to sit down, let alone overeat.' Her diet now focuses on whole foods, high-protein meals, and fresh fruit and vegetables. She also avoids packaged and processed foods, saying they taste like 'poison'. 'Your body will tell you when you've had enough - you just have to listen. That voice in your head saying "put the fork down"? That's the one I follow now,' she said. In terms of exercise, Bella swears by long walks. Prior to surgery, Bella exercised much more, including gym sessions and high daily step counts. Now, dietary habits and portion control are her main focus. And to those who might claim she 'cheated' with her decision to undergo gastric sleeve surgery? 'That's okay. I'm at peace with people thinking that because I know how much it's drastically helped me and changed my life for the better... I don't really care what other people think anymore,' she said. 'I'm just happy my life isn't controlled by what I put in my mouth and that I'm not constantly thinking about food 24/7. There's not just one way to lose weight. Everyone has to figure out what works best for them.' Bella's diet before Morning: Breakfast consisted mainly of processed carbs such as cereals or multiple slices of Italian bread, often topped with butter or Nutella. Occasionally oats or toast were included Mid-morning snacks: Frequent snacking on processed foods like chips, chocolates, lollies or fruit. Snacks were picked up or brought in Lunch: Typically more carbs with sandwiches, processed foods from the canteen (such as nuggets), or takeaway options. Sometimes it included salad, but there was often a desire to snack even after lunch. Office events could mean pizza or chips too Afternoon snacks: Continued snacking on chips, chocolates, lollies, ice cream, or other processed foods Dinner: Family meals were carb-heavy, including potatoes, schnitzel, pasta, lasagna, or chicken and chips. Portions tended to be large, and she often ate the same amount as other family members Evening: Occasional late snacks, especially during COVID Bella's diet now Morning: Breakfast is now lighter and usually delayed. The day often begins with coffee rather than food followed by protein in the form of eggs, bacon, mushrooms, avocado -with maybe a small slice of toast Mid-morning snacks: Snacking is now rare. Busy routines mean sometimes forgetting to eat, and there's little urge to snack between meals. Lunch: Lunch is often made up of leftovers, with a continued emphasis on protein. Portion sizes are far smaller than before. Carbs such as pasta, risotto, or pizza are still included occasionally, but in moderation (e.g., only eating a quarter of a pizza) Afternoon snacks: Rarely snacks in the afternoon. The focus is on main meals not mindless eating Dinner: Meals are still varied but much more controlled in portion size. The emphasis is on protein (meat and vegetables) rather than carbs, and there's a conscious effort to avoid overeating. Evening: Evening eating is minimal and not a regular habit For Bella, what worked best was a method that would allow her to stay healthy without intense gym routines, early mornings or stressful schedules. 'You see a lot of people who preach getting up at 5am and being in the gym lifting heavy weights and only eating dry chicken rice and beans and that's great for people without any responsibilities besides themselves,' she said. 'But what about the women at home who have babies, a household and a business to run and can't just wake up and leave to go to the gym in the morning to exercise?' Now an advocate for doing whatever possible to be 'your best self', Bella hopes to inspire Aussies to make the hard decisions and put themselves first - even if the road ahead looks a little scary. 'Everything has changed. I love the way I look, I've had a healthy pregnancy, become a first-time mum, and built a million-dollar business, all within two years,' she said. 'When I was in survival mode, constantly tired, emotionally eating, and avoiding the mirror, I became lazy in other areas too. But when I started backing myself, doing the inner work, and treating my body with respect, everything changed. 'I've healed a lot of my relationship with food, people around me, my body, myself and my identity. I'm no longer scared to stand up for myself and my beliefs around food and I no longer hide behind baggy clothes or avoid photos. 'I feel strong, focused, and finally at peace with who I am.'

‘Didn't believe in me': 27-year-old reveals secret she kept from her boss
‘Didn't believe in me': 27-year-old reveals secret she kept from her boss

News.com.au

time28-05-2025

  • Business
  • News.com.au

‘Didn't believe in me': 27-year-old reveals secret she kept from her boss

When Bella Moro reached her dream salary of $100,000 year, it pushed her to leave her secure job and pursue what turned out to be a million dollar business. Ms Moro was working in marketing at a manufacturing business that sold hand sanitiser and toilet paper during the pandemic when an idea came to her. Like everyone else during the pandemic, the Sydney local got a dog, a Cavoodle, and noticed it was impossible to find a shampoo that worked for her pooch. She found that most of the dog shampoos she used made her and her pet itchy and didn't smell great. That was when she noticed a market gap and came up with the idea of creating a shampoo made specifically for Cavoodles. 'I love this breed and wanted to create a product targeting sensitive skin. I wanted something that created fluffiness and a good shine,' she told The 27-year-old explained that she wanted to 'create something' that would set her up for the rest of her life. At the time, the pandemic was also wreaking havoc on people's job security and she didn't want to rely on an employer to make ends meet. 'I enjoyed my job, my team, and the work I was doing, but I always knew it might not last forever,' she said. 'I wanted to create something to be able to set myself up.' Ms Moro took about six to eight months to perfect the formula, test it, and put it into production, kicking off her business, MyCavoodle. When she finally had the product ready in 2021, Australia went into a massive pandemic induced lockdown that lasted four rigorous months for Sydneysiders, and she couldn't get her products to sell. 'I'd just spent all my savings on this, and then everything was just sitting on a factory floor, and I couldn't sell anything,' she said. The business owner was panicked at the time, but she still had her full-time job, so she waited out the lockdown. She launched the business in mid-2021, and at the time, it didn't even occur to her to quit her job. Ms Moro worked full-time and then ran her dog shampoo business on the side. Every morning, before work, she'd stop at the post office and post out her products, and at night, she'd pack and deal with orders. 'It was crazy hours, like 15-hour days,' she said. 'My first month, I was so shocked because it was so quickly successful. Without even doing a paid advertisement, I was making between $8000 and $10,000 in revenue.' The business owner found the instant success 'crazy' but credits it to the Cavoodle community. Immediately, she knew the best way to market her product was directly to Cavoodle owners. And where do they hang out? Online in private Faceboook community groups, of course. Ms Moro had to be sneaky because most community groups ban self-promotion. So, she marketed her product by getting family and friends to post in Cavoodle Facebook groups and recommend the products. The 27-year-old also spoke about her dog shampoo to anyone who would listen. She said that engaging with other dog owners was easy to a certain extent because 'everyone loves to talk about their dog', and she'd even plug her product at local dog parks. 'When I was working for the first year, I made $10,000 to $15,000 in monthly revenue. My biggest month was close to $20,000,' she said. Outside of close friends and family Ms Moro didn't tell anyone that she'd started a business because she didn't want to jinx things. 'I kept it a secret,' she said. 'I didn't want my bosses to find out I was working on something on the side and then think my productivity was going down.' She was also reluctant to tell people because, in general, she found people weren't very supportive. 'So many people didn't believe in it and it drove me to prove them wrong. I wanted to prove everyone wrong and there was no option of failure for me,' she said. Someone close to her once said that, when her business doesn't work out, she can just 'come work' for them. People would also often ask Ms Moro, 'Are you making money from this?'. The answer was yes, and probably more than you. 'I've probably made more in revenue then you have in your job. People don't understand if you put in the work, the sky is the limit,' she argued. The negativity just kept pushing Ms Moro, and the business kept growing to the point that when she got her dream salary of $100,000 at her 9-5 job, that wasn't even enough to stop her from quitting. She knew she needed to leave and focus on her brand. 'What Covid taught me is you can just get made redundant, so I bet on myself instead,' she said. It was the right bet. In the last year, the business has generated $1.1 million in revenue and is continuing to grow.

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