A PHOTOGRAPHER documents her staggering 35-pound weight loss in a time-lapse video spanning two years.
At her heaviest, Leah Hope Mancuso, 35, weighed nearly 400 pounds and felt like every step was “a burden.”
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A revealing trip to Disneyland in 2022 made her realize she didn’t want to live like this anymore — and that was the beginning of her incredible weight loss journey.
The photographer showed off her stunning transformation in a time-lapse video and revealed the secrets of her diet and exercise that helped her lose half her body weight.
Leah used to often eat junk food and unhealthy snacks to feel full, despite her busy lifestyle.
As the pounds piled on, she noticed she was less and less active.
At her heaviest, Leah weighed 375 pounds.
But she didn’t realize how much weight she had gained until she went on vacation to Disneyland with her sister and family.
“It was the hardest time I’ve ever tried to enjoy a day at an amusement park,” the Scottsdale, Arizona-based photographer told What’s The Jam.
“Being an aunt is one of the greatest joys of my life and I didn’t want to miss out on this experience with my nephew, so I went knowing it would be difficult for me.
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“Within a few hours I had a migraine, my feet and back hurt and I was sweating profusely.
“I took breaks as often as I could, but I ended up having to spend the last part of the day alone, sitting at a table with my eyes closed to keep the migraine under control.
“That night I felt stupid for thinking I could keep going and I knew I couldn’t continue on the path I was on.
“I didn’t want to live a life where a day in the so-called ‘happiest place on earth’ was actually the most miserable for me.”
When she returned home from the trip in March 2022, she knew something had to change.
She said: “I lived a life where I moved as little as possible because every step felt like a burden.
“I felt more and more uncomfortable in my body and realized how difficult it was to get through everyday life with my size.”
TAKING CONTROL
Leah took a close look at her eating and exercise habits and started making small changes.
“Most days I only left the house to get whatever food I felt like eating that day,” she realized.
“I usually had Starbucks in the morning – a Venti Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel, a blueberry muffin, and a Danish coffee.
“I would often get another meal for lunch or dinner, like a burger from In-N-Out. I would order two orders of fries so I could eat one with my burger and save the other for a snack.
“I have also eaten frozen “When I ate at home, I often had things that I could easily heat up, like taquitos or burritos.”
I used to live a very limited life because my size and capabilities limited me in so many ways.
I thought my life was easier before, so I continued with the unhealthy patterns I had created for myselfLeah Hoop Mancuso
Leah weighed 180 kilos (28.4 stone) when she started her journey.
She said: “I started to become more aware of what I ate by writing it down in a food diary.
“After practicing mindfulness, I decided to take a little more control over my results and after about six weeks I started tracking my calorie intake.
“I also started walking 10 minutes a day, because that was about the most I could do at one time.
“But as my endurance increased, I was able to go from 10 minutes to 15, then to 20, then to 30 minutes.
“Then I added swimming to the mix and eventually strength training, pickleball and walking.
“About a year into my journey, I hired a personal trainer who I have worked with regularly ever since.”
‘LIFE IS SO MUCH BETTER’
Leah currently weighs 185 lbs (13.2 stone).
She said: “Everyday food now consists of scrambled eggs with cheese and fruit, or poached eggs on a piece of sourdough bread with butter, along with coffee with collagen, cream and sugar for breakfast.
“Lunch consists of a bowl of cottage cheese, with maple syrup as a sweetener, granola and fruit.
“Another lunch I often eat is an open sandwich with ham or tuna on sourdough bread.
“For dinner I usually have chicken and potatoes or pasta with chicken sausage and a vegetable like broccoli or bell pepper.
Leah’s Diet Before and After Her Weight Loss
BEFORE going to Disneyland, Leah would often eat mostly junk food and only leave the house to get food she wanted.
Her diet consisted of:
- Breakfast: Starbucks Venti Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel syrup, a blueberry muffin and a pastry
- Lunch: In-N-Out burger and chips
- Dinner: Frozen taquitos or burritos
- Snack: Leftover chips from take-out
Leah started keeping a food diary and made an effort to eat more mindfully.
Her diet now consists of:
- Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with cheese and fruit or poached eggs on sourdough bread with butter, plus coffee with collagen, cream and sugar
- Lunch: Cottage cheese bowl, with maple syrup, granola and fruit or an open sandwich with ham or tuna
- Dinner: Chicken and potatoes or pasta with chicken sausage and broccoli or bell pepper
- Snack: Protein bar or shake
- Dessert: Ice cream or berries with whipped cream and chocolate chips
“A snack is usually a protein bar or shake.
“I still love ending the day with something sweet, like ice cream or berries with whipped cream and chocolate chips!”
Leah claims she now feels good, healthy and capable in her new body.
She said: “I used to live such a limited life because my size and abilities limited me in so many ways.
“I thought my life was easier before, so I kept holding on to the unhealthy patterns I had created for myself.
“But it wasn’t easier, it was just less.
“Life is so much better now. Not because I am closer to society’s beauty standards, but because I have so much more of the things that really matter.”
How to Lose Weight Safely
Losing weight should be a long-term goal for a healthier life, not a series of drastic measures.
The NHS tips, which can be introduced slowly, include:
- Exercise 150 minutes per week – you can break this up into shorter sessions
- Try to get your 5 A Day – 80g of fresh, tinned or frozen fruit or vegetables counts as 1 portion
- Try to lose 1 to 2 pounds, or 0.5 to 1 kg, per week
- Read food labels – products with more green color coding than amber and red are often a healthier option
- Replace sugary drinks with water – if you don’t like the taste, add lemon or lime slices for flavor
- Reduce your consumption of foods high in sugar and fat – start by replacing sugary grains with whole grain alternatives
- Share your weight loss plan with someone you trust – they can help motivate you when you’re having a bad day
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