An obese woman who tipped the scales at 275lbs is a weight-loss success story that inspired the world by her transformation.

Christine Carter, 28, from Dallas, lost 150lbs in 16 months and gained the confidence to ditch her ex, who she claims encouraged her to put on weight so she wouldn’t leave him.

At her heaviest in 2014, Christine, who is 5ft 5in tall, had to take 10 different medicines as well as having weekly medical check-ups due to health issues caused by her size. After 16 months, Christine reached her target weight of 125lbs (8st 13lbs).

Christine Carter’s weight loss secret? Her mindset.

Carter decided she needed to change the way she thought about food and take away its power over her. As she shared on Instagram:

I used to live for the next meal. Like…literally eating lunch I was thinking about what I would eat for dinner. I have learned to enjoy NEW things about food. I’ve learned to love cooking and am finding new ways everyday to make low sugar/carb meals that taste great but don’t keep me from my goals.

Carter says instead of relying on food, she plays the piano and exercises to feel good.

“Cause I learned the hard way that while bad food feels good now…it doesn’t make you feel good in the end,” she posted.

Progress is the goal-not perfection. There were many times along the road I felt defeated and wanted to give up. I felt like I would never reach my goals. But the thing about time is: it’s going to pass anyway. As long as you continue to pursue your goals and dreams…you will continue to move towards them. Keep your eye on the prize and never give up on YOU. ?

A post shared by Christine Carter (@weightlosshero) on Mar 13, 2017 at 8:27am PDT

Christine Carter’s “aha” moment that she needed to get serious about weight loss happened in July 2014 when she attended a family reunion. She hadn’t gone in several years, but was looking forward to reconnecting with her extended family.

“I saw my favorite uncle standing across the room,” recounted Carter. “As he approached me, he just kept walking. He didn’t recognize me because I weighed 275 pounds — I had to introduce myself to my own family. I felt like I had hit rock bottom,” she remembered.

At the time, Carter had replaced her smoking habit with a food addiction. She ate when she was stressed and was spending at least $2,000 a month eating out at fancy restaurants in Dallas.

“Portion control was my problem, I would eat three times the amount of food I should,” Carter explained. ” I was on ten medications and was constantly in the doctor’s office. I felt horrible — I could barely move or go up a flight of stairs, and I was only 26!”

She had tried the route of traditional exercise and diet, but always failed and the constant failures were hurting her self confidence, and causing her to become depressed. When a co-worker underwent gastric sleeve surgery and started losing weight, Carter made an appointment with the same doctor.

Desperate to get fit, Carter underwent laparoscopic gastric sleeve resection surgery, and to date, has lost 150 pounds and kept it off. Once she changed her mindset, she says she stopped eating junk food and started working with a personal trainer—and she never missed a workout.

They say it always seems impossible until it’s done. They aren’t lying. 10 pounds felt like a mountain to move-but 175? It couldn’t be done. But it started with one step. You must make one unequivocal decision that you refuse to accept less than the absolute best for your life. You are not obligated to be who you were before…and you can make that one choice to change your life…for the rest of your life. What is stopping you from taking your first step?

A post shared by Christine Carter (@weightlosshero) on Jul 18, 2017 at 6:06pm PDT

In November 2015, Christine had a tummy tuck and breast implants and proudly flaunted her hot new look. By December 2015 she had reached her target weight.

But when her boyfriend became jealous, Christine decided she had to end the relationship.

Christine said: ‘I had a few triggers for my weight gain – I quit smoking and transferred my addiction from nicotine to eating.

‘The other factor is that I was in an unhappy relationship.

‘My ex was very controlling, told me what to wear and I believe he wanted me to be fat so that I wouldn’t leave him. He also didn’t like me having me own friends.

‘Being overweight, I didn’t feel I deserved anything better – I went from a place of being “fat and happy” to just “fat”.

‘It was taking a major toll on my body and instead of dealing with my feelings I was eating them.’

“I remember how transformation images would give me hope, and I wanted to inspire other people. I started with 50 followers and it’s just grown rapidly,” Carter said. “My biggest joy now comes from helping others transform the way I did.”

After sharing her weight loss story via her Instagram account, Christine has amassed 206,000 followers – and says has never been happier.

Sources: Simple Most Photo Credit: Instagram