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. 

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.’

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.’