Vegan transforms her body in 12 weeks of coronavirus lockdown

A vegan who was fed up with feeling unhappy with her figure has transformed her diet in lockdown and shed 10 inches from her waist, hips and thighs.

Rebecca Hanna, 28, from Meersbrook in Sheffield, started a strict 12-week regime on  12th February, which saw her do daily exercise and ditch carb-heavy meals such as chips with curry sauce.

The insurance worker, who now eats healthy options such as overnight oats, protein shakes and avocados, has dropped from 11st 3lbs to 10st 7lbs.

She has also lost three inches (8cm) off her hips, waist, and thighs, one inch (3cm) off her arms and two inches (6cm) from her glutes. 

Rebecca is pictured now after shedding 10lbs

Rebecca Hanna, 28, from Meersbrook in Sheffield, started a strict 12-week regime on February 12 that saw her do daily exercise and ditch carb-heavy meals such as chips with curried sauce. She shed 10lbs, pictured before left and right after

The insurance worker, who now eats healthy options such as overnight oats, protein shakes and avocados, has dropped from 11st 3lbs to 10st 7lbs.

The insurance worker, who now eats healthy options such as overnight oats, protein shakes and avocados, has dropped from 11st 3lbs to 10st 7lbs.

Rebecca decided to lose weight and change her lifestyle after she had been suffering from low moods, bad sleeping patterns and eating a poor diet despite becoming vegan on January 1 this year. 

She would snack on vegan sausage rolls and crisps during the day before enjoying fried dinners – with double the portions she needed.

She told FEMAIL: ‘My evenings consisted of lots of snacks and big takeaways every weekend. But now I stick to overnight oats, protein shakes, avocados and smaller portions.’

TYPICAL DAILY FOOD BEFORE

 Breakfast : Beans on toast or buttery crumpets

Lunch: Chips with curry sauce or a convenient supermarket lunch. 

Crisps,  chocolate and  high calorie sandwiches or vegan sausages rolls

Dinner: Rebecca’s evening meals were fried and double the portion she needed

 

 

 

TYPICAL DAILY FOOD NOW

Breakfast: Two slices of toast with half an avocado (instead of butter) or a bowl of overnight oats with berries and a protein shake

Lunch: Seasoned vegan chicken or burger with a small sweet or normal potato and vegetables or salad

Dinner: Vegan mince with fresh tomatoes and seasoning with a small portion of rice followed by a bowl of Coco Pops to stops sweet cravings

Evening snack (around 7pm): Soya yoghurt and berries and a few squares of dark chocolate

 

However she still has ‘off plan’ meals and drinks a can of Diet Coke per day as well as eating a daily bowl of Coco-Pops to stop her sweet cravings.

She said: ‘When I started I felt very unhappy with how I looked and felt and with poor motivation all around, I had pretty low moods, I lacked self-confidence and self-esteem and had a really bad sleeping pattern.

‘I was snoozing my alarms and felt tired all day and was napping whenever I could – I was unhappy because my moods were low and I was unfit.

Rebecca now eats vegan mince, sweet potato and fresh vegetables switching from carb-heavy takeaways

Rebecca now eats vegan mince, sweet potato and fresh vegetables switching from carb-heavy takeaways

Rebecca, pictured before, has also lost three inches (8cm) off her hips, waist, and thighs, one inch (3cm) off her arms and two inches (6cm) from her glutes

Rebecca is pictured now after losing 10inches

Rebecca has also lost three inches (8cm) off her hips, waist, and thighs, one inch (3cm) off her arms and two inches (6cm) from her glutes. Pictured left before and right after

‘But now, I feel great and I feel strong. I have tonnes more energy and my mental health has improved drastically! I go to sleep 10pm till 6.30am everyday and wake up feeling ready to start the day with a smile on my face.’

Rebecca, who has been a vegetarian since she was 11, treats herself to a big healthy breakfast on Sundays with grilled mushrooms, sausages and tomatoes with beans and toast and then she makes a healthy Sunday roast dinner.

She said: ‘If I feel hungry between meals I have a salt and vinegar rice cake or some carrot sticks with a bit of hummus, or a low carb and low sugar protein bar.

‘I do have off-plan meals, usually, one every two or three weeks depending on the progress, and I opt for a pizza and chips with ice cream to finish or something Mexican. I stuck to my plan fully for the first seven weeks though.

‘I prepare all my food on Sunday and Wednesday evenings to stop me snacking while cooking but I also drink about six pints of water a day, and a can of Diet Coke.’   

Rebecca decided to lose weight and change her lifestyle after she had been suffering from low moods, bad sleeping patterns and eating a poor diet despite becoming vegan on January 1 this year.

Rebecca is pictured now

Rebecca decided to lose weight and change her lifestyle after she had been suffering from low moods, bad sleeping patterns and eating a poor diet despite becoming vegan on January 1 this year.

Rebecca would snack on vegan sausage rolls and crisps during the day before enjoying fried dinners - with double the portions she needed

Rebecca is pictured after shedding 10lbs

Rebecca would snack on vegan sausage rolls and crisps during the day before enjoying fried dinners – with double the portions she needed. She is pictured left in October last year and right now

Rebecca is pictured after losing 10inches and 10lbs in her gym gear

Rebecca is pictured after losing 10inches and 10lbs in her gym gear

Rebecca is pictured at first weeks halfway through her transformation

Rebecca is pictured at first weeks halfway through her transformation

Rebecca is pictured at first weeks halfway through her transformation 

Rebecca’s typical daily workout 

Monday – Legs/ Lower – squats, split squats, lunges, deadlifts

Tuesday – Arms/Upper – bicep curls, shoulder press, side raises, tricep extensions, upward row

Wednesday – Legs /Lower – reverse Lunges, Split squats, reverse lunge, hip thrusts

Thursday – Rest day

Friday – Arms/Upper – hammer curls, bent over row, front arm raises, single arm side raises, chest press

Saturday – Same as Wednesday

Sunday – Rest 

Rebecca follows a daily workout routine and sticks to her strict regime set out by her online coach – but says it’s her progress photos that inspire her to keep going.

After deciding to change her lifestyle, Rebecca started working with online coach Paige Rebecca on February 12.

Paige, who works as an online coach and competitive bikini athlete, emails Rebecca a workout and food plan – broken down into how many calories/grams of fat, carbs and protein she should be eating.  

She also trains her stomach muscles on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays and goes for a walk everyday – which she tracks on the Strava app.

‘I found the second and third week of lockdown really tricky, trying to settle into a routine, not only for training, but also for my mindset and mental health’ Rebecca said.

Rebecca uses food to structure her daily fitness routine - she does her weights before breakfast, goes for a walk before lunch and trains her abs before dinner.

Rebecca uses food to structure her daily fitness routine – she does her weights before breakfast, goes for a walk before lunch and trains her abs before dinner.

Rebecca follows a daily workout routine and sticks to her strict regime set out by her online coach - but says it's her progress photos that inspire her to keep going.

Rebecca follows a daily workout routine and sticks to her strict regime set out by her online coach – but says it’s her progress photos that inspire her to keep going.

‘The exercise has massively helped me get through lockdown mentally. I wake up naturally now around 6.30am and get dressed in my gym gear ready to work out.

‘I have printed out each day’s workouts and how many reps to do of each – I pin that day’s workout plan onto my pinboard and start working out in front of a mirror. After my workout, I have a shower and get dressed ready for the day.’

She has grown a huge following on social media and shares her tips, tricks and advice with those looking to lose weight during lockdown.

Rebecca said some days are harder than others to stick to her plan but uses her progress photos and determination to keep going.

She also uses food to structure her daily fitness routine – she does her weights before breakfast, goes for a walk before lunch and trains her abs before dinner.

She said: ‘On the days I don’t feel like working out I always say to myself “If you do it, then it’s done”, and “If you don’t want to work out, just work out” – because they are the most rewarding workouts.

Rebecca is pictured at the start of her transformation

Rebecca is pictured now after changing her diet

Rebecca is pictured at the start of her transformation (left) and now (right) after changing her diet

Rebecca said some days are harder than others to stick to her plan but uses her progress photos and determination to keep going.

Rebecca said some days are harder than others to stick to her plan but uses her progress photos and determination to keep going.

Rebecca works out for home six days a week, she is pictured with dumbells

Rebecca works out for home six days a week, she is pictured with dumbells

‘Motivation for me is knowing that I feel good everyday, I feel mentally strong and I will look great for when lockdown ends and we can go out.’

Rebecca admitted she has always found it difficult to manage her weight and regularly fluctuated between a size 12 to size 14.

She said: ‘I was never happy. I would always compare myself to my slimmer friends and never felt good.

‘I particularly found it hard in my 20s and I struggled with the pressure of having to look a certain way. I looked at social media and it would get me down. So I would comfort eat, which just made it a downward spiral into feeling depressed about how I looked.

‘As soon as I stopped overthinking weight loss and exercise and had each week planned out by my coach, I realised it’s just a matter trusting yourself and the process of eating right and exercising more.’

Rebecca now hopes to become an athlete and compete in bikini bodybuilding competitions.

Rebecca now hopes to become an athlete and compete in bikini bodybuilding competitions.

Rebecca now hopes to become an athlete and compete in bikini bodybuilding competitions.

‘Exercise and weight loss has made me feel better mentally through the endorphins, but the biggest achievement is that I never thought I would be one of those girls who could look good.

‘I am hoping to take my progress further and compete in a bikini bodybuilding competition. It was never my goal to start with, but I have fallen in love with feeling good and pushing myself and the limits I had originally set myself.

‘I never thought I would be able to achieve this body or this work ethic.’

‘This is only the start of my new lifestyle and I’m excited to see how far I can take this. I’m falling in love with myself and my body more and more everyday.’