Woman Believes 10st Weight Loss Prior To Coronavirus Diagnosis Helped Her Recover

A woman in the US believes losing 10 stone (140lbs) spared her from being hit far worse by coronavirus.

Angelina Toppi, from Harper County, Maryland, went from 22st 12lbs (320lbs) in February to 12st 12lbs (180lbs) when she tested positive for Covid-19 in October.

SWNS

Fortunately, the 24-year-old didn't suffer too much at the hands of the disease. However, she's convinced it would have been a different story if she hadn't shed so many pounds - with one study finding that obese people are 90 percent more likely to be killed by coronavirus.

She said: "If I was as big as I had been, I think my symptoms and the length of them would have been far worse.

"My symptoms weren't that severe and I think it was because I am healthy and not obese anymore.

"I lost my sense of smell, I had headaches and I was really tired but it only lasted three or four days.

"I think if I was as heavy as I had been before, I would have had issues with my breathing."

SWNS

Angelina began losing weight three weeks before the US went into lockdown - not due to a fear of severe symptoms if she contracted the disease, but rather because of a breakup.

Angelina, who works in accounting at a car dealership, said: "I went through a bad breakup and I realised how heavy and unhealthy I was.

"The best way to get back at someone is to make yourself look better.

"Most people are gaining weight during Covid but I'm losing it."

SWNS

So, how did she do it? Well, Angelina used to begin each day with four Dunkin Donuts egg and cheese wraps, washed down with a large coffee with extra cream and caramel, before dining on chips, candy and garlic bread throughout the day.

But she swapped the fast food for lean salads or cooked vegetables with grilled tuna or chicken, snacking on almonds.

She said: "At first it was very difficult but after about two months, it really just became a lifestyle.

"I could know how many carbs were in something just by looking at it. It became second nature.

"I did miss pasta - I'm Italian so my family eats a lot of spaghetti."

SWNS

Her efforts mean she's gone from a size 24 to a size 12 (UK), but she's keen to lose more weight yet.

She said: "I want to get to 140lbs, and then I'll slowly start adding healthy carbs again like fruit and maybe potatoes.

"I find walking easier and I don't hear myself breathing all the time.

"I can fit into clothes at regular stores now, I'm not going to plus size stores all the time.

"I feel so much better about myself."

Topics: Weight Loss, Interesting, Coronavirus, Community, Weight Loss, Coronavirus, Community

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey