And the Transformation of the Year winner is ... Donna McCaulsky

What is The Transformation Award? 

Voted for by the readers of Women’s Own, this award goes to the person who’s truly overhauled their life. It could be that they’ve found love since losing weight, and are now planning the wedding of their dreams. Or maybe their newly discovered confidence landed them an amazing job, doing something they could’ve only ever imagined before The 1:1 Diet. It’s an award that’s all about celebrating life’s big, and sometimes small, wins.

Let's talk about Donna...

My Motivation

In 2023, Donna had hit rock bottom. In agonising pain, she rode the bus at night to distract herself as her health spiralled out of control. Despite gradual weight gain since age 25, it was the severe health issues during the pandemic that motivated her to change. She developed painful, unhealed leg lesions, nerve pain, and a constricted throat, leading to terrifying suffocation episodes and chronic insomnia.

Diagnosed with a form of lupus and burdened by medication side effects, her weight surged to 25 stone, and she realised drastic action was needed. Inspired by one of Deborah Adams’ TikTok weight loss stories, she contacted her - and so her journey began.

My Transformation

“I accepted I needed to change. And while flicking through TikTok I stumbled upon one of Deborah’s transformations and felt a glimmer of hope.”

Two days later, Donna found herself face-to-face with Deborah, desperate for a lifeline.

“She instantly saw my pain and assured me, ‘I am going to help you’. Under her care, I instantly felt calm and safe, and that I could be open and honest. This turned out to be the best decision I have ever made.”

From the start, Donna never felt alone. Not only was Deborah cheering her on, but a whole community of slimmers celebrated every milestone with her. 

On top of the incredible 10-stone weight loss, Donna now no longer has to escape the torture of sleep by riding night buses. In fact, she now ‘sleeps like a baby’. Her lesions have healed, the neuropathic pain has subsided and her throat is no longer restricted. Plus, her medication has gone down from 11 daily tablets to just two. 

“My specialists are so impressed with my transformation that I will be the subject of a research paper at the hospital.”

Donna now has a newfound passion for researching nutrition and has prepared herself for a lifetime of healthy living. Learning new habits, such as portion control and mindful eating, has empowered her to take complete charge of her health. 

“I hope to inspire others, who may be struggling with their health, to take that first step. Thanks to the 1:1 Diet, my weight loss journey has been possible. At my lowest, I felt hopeless. For anyone in a dark place, my advice is: never give up on your ourney to wellness. Always see the positives, take that leap of faith, and reach out. You won’t regret it.”

Testimonials

“Donna’s journey of losing 10 stone is nothing short of extraordinary. Her perseverance and unwavering dedication to stick to The 1:1 Diet has inspired many people. From the very beginning, Donna has been “all in”, approaching the challenge of losing her weight with remarkable determination. She openly says that at 26 stone, she was at rock bottom. 

Seeing her now 12 months later with her cheeky dimpled smile and a spring in her step - 10 stone lighter - is amazing. Spinning around and playfully trying new figure-hugging clothes, she is looking younger than ever. Donna has always been a beautiful person with a beaming infectious smile but - the weight held her back. Now the world can see what has been hidden inside Donna all along. I’m so excited to see Donna blossom.”

Want to follow Donna and the other shortlisted candidates’ journeys? Then make sure you check out our Instagram or our latest blogs all about the Slimmer Awards.