A woman has shared how she lost over seven stone in a bid to overhaul her lifestyle after years of taunting by evil bullies.

Yuval Benisti first started struggling with her weight as a teenager with school peers calling her “fat” and saying she would “never get a boyfriend”.

The 21-year-old would constantly look in the mirror and cry, and then fall back into old habits and eat unhealthy foods to comfort herself.

At her heaviest, Yuval weighed 15 st 7 lbs and became a recluse, rarely leaving the house and “hiding away from the world”.

"I used to always be afraid to [argue] with people because I knew they would call me 'fat' but I still got hurtful comments regardless," Yuval, who is now a fitness trainer with over 74,000 followers (@yuval_benisti) told NeedToKnow.online.

"People would say things such as: 'you're fat, you will never get a boyfriend' or 'why don't you try losing weight? You're very fat for your age' which really hurt.

"I had always been trying to lose weight but I’d never succeeded, as I constantly gave up.

"I tried almost every possible diet, where I even went to professionals who always gave me the same menu as everyone else, which was poor with low calories.

"[Eventually], I stopped going out, my confidence went away and I didn't buy any new clothes at all.

"I walked around in long T-shirts and I wanted to hide away from the world."

At the age of 16, feeling hopeless, Yuval stopped eating altogether, which saw her periods stop and she was almost hospitalised due to her condition, which was slowly starting to kill her.

Her parents, Daniel, 47, and Roni, 49, stepped in to help their daughter but the real wake-up call for the then-teenager didn’t come until a few months later.

Following her hospitalisation, she began binge eating instead, consuming “extreme” amounts of food including pasta with chips, fried chicken, and toast with large amounts of cheese.

The 21-year-old said: "The transition was very hard for me, as both situations were extreme and I felt like I was losing myself.

"I struggled to find a balance and there were days where I thought of giving up, but I'm glad I didn't do that.

"But this time was different, as I did it alone without any help.

"I wanted to live a life without shame, so I decided not to give up – it was either that or find myself in a state of depression."

To date, Yuval has lost 7 st and 2 lbs, now weighing 8 st and 5 lbs.

She focuses on maintaining a healthy calorie deficit while still getting the nutrition she needs (see before and after diet at bottom of the article), has gotten into running and does strength training four days a week.

Researching food and diets, and understanding what the body needs has “really helped” the trainer reach her “end goal”

Yuval is sharing her transformation and story online to help others, having recently gone viral in a clip that has racked up over 20 million views.

Speaking about how her life has changed, she said: "Some days, I still feel insecure looking in the mirror, but then I look back at old photos and I'm filled with pride.

"I appreciate myself now and I still can't believe I've managed to do this, as it's something I've wanted my whole life.

"I'm excited to look at myself now and compare where I am today, to back then.

"I like to edit videos, so I used to show my family and they told me to upload them onto TikTok.

"I was very nervous at first, but I'm glad I decided to listen, as it's been one of the best decisions I've made.

"People have told me I've inspired them and helped them understand there is hope, as anything is possible.

"I feel more comfortable and confident with the way I look now, and I've fallen in love with this world, where I've re-discovered who I am.

"I am thankful every day for all I've been through, and I've learned to appreciate the things many take for granted.

"I can finally go into shops and find clothes that fit me without any fear – it's liberating."

Now, Yuval claims the boys who used to bully her in school are sending "flirty" messages on social media.

In a bid to keep her pride, she's made a promise to herself to never date anyone who treated her badly because of her weight, and instead, looks for love with those who appreciate every part of her.

Social media users have come out in droves to support the young woman’s incredible transformation.

"WOW you did it girl sooo proud," one user commented. [sic]

Another person added: "Respect."

Paola Andrea Salazar commented: "I'm proud of you!!!!"

"You're beautiful no matter what!!! But also great job! Weight loss is so difficult," someone else added.

One person said: "NOW THAT'S THE BEST GLOW UP I'VE EVER SEEN."

"This is incredible. Well done!" Chris added.

DIET BREAKDOWN:

DIET – BEFORE:

Breakfast: Cereal with milk
Lunch: Pasta with chips and fried schnitzel
Dinner: Toast with full-fat cheese and dessert
Snacks: Crisps or chocolate

DIET – AFTER:

Breakfast: Protein yoghurt with fruit and oatmeal
Lunch: Rice with chicken and salad
Dinner: Omelette with light cheese and two pieces of toast
Snacks: Protein bar and/or snacks with 220 calories or under

ENDS

EDITOR’S NOTE: Video Usage Licence: (EXCLUSIVE) We have obtained an exclusive licence from the copyright holder. A copy of the licence is available on request.

Video Restrictions: None.