WEIGHING in at a staggering 30 stone, Norma Dibrell had become completely obsessed with food.
She was gorging on an extreme 30,000 calories a day and couldn’t stop herself from feasting on McDonalds and whole bags of Doritos every single day.
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Norma’s love for travel was also being crushed before her very eyes – as she could no longer fit in standard seats on the plane and one travel agent had even refused her a ticket because she was “too big”.
However, after two decades of binge eating and reaching dress size 32, the educator, 26, finally decided enough was enough.
She completely overhauled her life and began exercising five times a week – and has since shed nearly 18 stone.
And Norma now feels happier than ever in her 12-stone figure and much more comfortable dress size 12.
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Speaking about her binge eating disorder, Norma, from Texas, USA, said: “For the first 25 years of my existence food was my coping mechanism.
“I was easily eating as much as 30,000 calories a day.
“Whether it was a good day or bad day I’d feel better through food. If my day was just ok, I’d spice it up with food.
“I just loved food and relied on it.
“If I’m honest I still do love eating, but I allowed myself to splurge constantly then and because of my size, weight and priorities, I didn’t see intentional physical activity as an option or necessity.
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“This is what I’d eat on a ‘bad’ day; at 6am a large venti caramel frappaccino, slice of iced lemon pound cake and an egg cheddar and bacon croissant.
“At 10am I’d have a snickers bar and hot Cheetos. At 1pm I’d have two leg quarters with a cup of rice and a large soda. At 3pm I’d eat a big bag of Doritos and 10 Oreos.
“At 5pm I’d eat a granola bar and drink another large soda. At 7pm I’d eat 20 chicken nuggets, a BigMac, hot n’ spicy chicken, large fries and another large soda.
“At 10pm I’d eat popcorn with pickles and chocolate covered almonds. I also had a drawer at work jam packed with snacks and I ate them mindlessly and endlessly.
“The snacks were nuts and chocolate covered nuts, crisps, candy bars and granola bars. This is just in one day and I didn’t really exercise.”
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And Norma was becoming increasingly low – as her weight meant she couldn’t do things she loved such as going to theme parks or surfing.
She said: “I used to struggle a lot. Especially with travel.
“I needed to buy two plane seats, I couldn’t use the ziplines, I couldn’t climb or surf, I couldn’t jump off waterfalls.
“I couldn’t go on roller coasters, I couldn’t wear heels or boots or the nice clothes I wanted to.
“I couldn’t even leave a room without carefully considering if I’d fit through the exit before trying. I was also always so tired after really short walks.
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“The list just goes on. All this was because of my weight and size.
“One time I was even refused travel because the agent told me I wouldn’t fit in the seats and they wouldn’t let me buy a second seat. I was so embarrassed.”
In December 2017, Norma had gastric bypass surgery and decided to completely overhaul her lifestyle following advice from her surgeon, dietitian and psychiatrist.
She said: “Now for breakfast I might have a protein shake.
“Lunch is typically tuna and cucumber or turkey slices and cheese.
Norma’s diet before and after
BEFORE
Breakfast: Large venti caramel frappaccino, slice of iced lemon pound cake and an egg cheddar and bacon croissant
Lunch: Two leg quarters with a cup of rice, a large soda, snickers bar and hot Cheetos
Dinner: 20 chicken nuggets, a BigMac, hot n’ spicy chicken, large fries and another large soda
Snacks: Big bag of Doritos, ten Oreos, granola bar, popcorn with pickles, chocolate covered almonds and a large soda
AFTER:
Breakfast: Protein shake
Lunch: Tuna and cucumber or turkey slices and cheese
Dinner: Ground turkey zucchini boats, bunless lean cheeseburger or spaghetti squash with turkey meatballs
Snack: Jerky, yogurt with berries, pork rind or fruit
“For dinner a different protein and more veggies like ground turkey zucchini boats, bunless lean cheeseburger or spaghetti squash with turkey meatballs.
“For snacks I’ll have one of these; jerky, yogurt with berries, pork rind or fruit.
“Now I exercise on a treadmill or go walking or jogging outdoors five times a week and cover 10,000 steps a day.
“I now eat about 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day.”
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Although people are amazed at Norma’s transformation, she admits that it is still difficult on a daily basis.
She added: “People are generally completely stunned when they see me now. They don’t even recognise me anymore.
“I think the hardest thing about this journey has been feeling I had to change myself to fit into this world.
“Boys seem to like me better now that I’ve lost weight, but then people did used to say I’d be prettier if I lost it.
“I’m still obsessed with food so I still find it difficult it’s still a huge part of my life but I eat differently to be healthier. I now eat foods that fuel me instead of destroy me.
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“It’s unfortunate that size dictates social value and aesthetics so much, but that’s the truth and people tell me I look good now, as if I looked bad before.
“Apart from feeling like I now conform to societal norms, I feel I am very strong and capable.
“I committed to this lifelong lifestyle and it’s completely changed my life.
“I’m working on my mental health, my relationship with food and educating myself about food.”
What is a binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder involves regularly eating large portions of food all at once until you feel uncomfortably full, and then often upset or guilty.
Binges are often planned in advance and the person may buy “special” binge foods.
Men and women of any age can get binge eating disorder, but it typically starts in the late teens or early 20s.
The main symptom of binge eating disorder is eating very large amounts of food in a short time, often in an out-of-control way. But symptoms may also include:
- eating very fast during a binge
- eating until you feel uncomfortably full
- eating when you’re not hungry
- eating alone or secretly
- feeling depressed, guilty, ashamed or disgusted after binge eating
People who regularly eat in this way may have binge eating disorder.
The following warning signs could indicate that someone you care about has an eating disorder:
- eating a lot of food, very fast
- trying to hide how much they are eating
- storing up supplies of food
- putting on weight – though this doesn’t happen to everyone with binge eating disorder
Source: NHS
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Norma has now found a new found love of running and no longer needs two seats on the plane.
She said: “I’ve increased physical activity a lot and even found joy in crazy things like jogging. Imagine that?
“I now only need one plane seat with no seatbelt extensions, and I can buy clothes almost anywhere I please.
“It’s a very different existence to anything I lived before.”
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Norma is now hoping people will follow in her footsteps and gives others advice on how they can lose weight too.
“You really do need to be ready for this journey. You need to really want this for yourself and nobody else,” she said.
“You need to understand that this is a lifelong commitment and lifestyle you’re accepting. If you’re not ready, want a quick fix or are doing it for someone else, you may put on even more weight in the end and not be fully invested.”
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