Siberian woman loses 50 kg after feeling ashamed in hospital
Veronica managed to completely transform both her body and her life over two and a half years.
In the autumn of 2021, Veronica Belousova ended up in intensive care due to COVID-19. The woman weighed 140 kilograms (309 lbs). It was then that the Siberian woman began to think it was time to change that number, but it took another year and a half to make the final decision. She couldn«t walk 30 meters without sitting down to rest and realized she couldn»t go on living like that. Over two and a half years, she managed to lose about 50 kilograms (110 lbs). She shared her experience with NGS.RU.
Veronica began her weight loss journey when she weighed 140 kilograms (309 lbs).
«I Was So Ashamed»
The Siberian woman made collages to motivate herself; her husband supports her but worries she«ll become too thin.
In 2021, Novosibirsk resident Veronica Belousova caught COVID-19. The virus hit her weakest spot—her lungs. With total damage of one lung at 100% and the second at 98%, Veronica ended up in intensive care. The medical staff fought desperately for her life, and the Siberian woman herself wasn«t about to give up, but she was ashamed. She weighed 140 kilograms (309 lbs), and caring for her was very difficult.
In her new look, Veronica shone among guests at the NGS People«s Choice Awards.
«To move me around in the ICU, it took three men. I was so ashamed, felt bad because they had to struggle so hard,» Veronica admitted. «Although I even liked myself at that weight, I just understood that I needed to lose weight for my health.»
She stopped snacking on fruit as it provoked hunger, opting instead for boiled eggs or chicken breast.
But first, she needed to recover from the illness. She spent almost three weeks in intensive care, and rehabilitation after the hospital took more than a year. During this time, Veronica studied how the body works, what exactly is best to eat, and understood why exercise alone wouldn«t help.
Veronica advises anyone wanting to lose weight not to despair and to notice even small successes.
In mid-2023, the Siberian woman started keeping a food diary and purposefully began to lose weight, which until then had hovered around 140 kilograms (309 lbs). She welcomed the New Year of 2026 in a stunning dress with a plunging neckline and a new number on the scale: 94 kilograms (207 lbs). Veronica is sure that anyone can get in shape at any age if they have the desire. She already celebrated her 41st birthday at her new weight.
«The Weight Loss Formula Is Very Simple»
Veronica immediately stipulates that losing weight will be almost impossible if there are serious problems in life: psychological trauma or high stress levels. You need to deal with that first. Then check your thyroid health, consult a therapist or endocrinologist, and take the basic tests they prescribe.
If there are no diseases preventing weight loss, you can proceed. Keep in mind that exercise without changing your diet will be almost useless.
«The simplest and only weight loss formula: if there»s a deficit—you lose weight, if there«s a surplus—you gain weight. Provided there are no serious illnesses. There»s simply no third option,« Veronica emphasized. »Don«t fool yourself with »it«s my build» or «I have big bones.» Everything starts with acceptance: I«m fat because I eat a lot or eat incorrectly.»
She developed a diet: reduced carbohydrates, added fiber and protein. She didn«t count calories, gradually reduced portions, and tried to switch to healthy eating without snacks, sausages, and sweets.
Veronica advises weighing yourself no more than once a week (in the morning, on an empty stomach) and definitely keeping a food diary—it«s very important in the first months. Don»t go easy on yourself; write down every cookie or candy—everything that goes into your mouth during the day. Not snacking is one of the most important steps to health. At the same time, it«s important to listen to your body. For many, an apple or banana isn»t suitable for a snack, but a persimmon or orange becomes a real salvation from sudden hunger.
Over two and a half years, Veronica lost almost 50 kilograms (110 lbs), but now the number on the scale has stalled. The Siberian woman noted that for many, this becomes a heavy psychological blow, but it«s important to remember: the body can»t lose kilograms constantly. Especially if you add exercise. You need to give it time to restructure, adjust processes at the new weight, and in two or three weeks, review your diet and lifestyle again.
Veronica started going to the gym, but focuses mainly on walking, and at home, she uses a vibration trainer—it helps tighten the skin, boosts mood, and generally makes the body stronger.
How to Eat to Lose Weight
Veronica Belousova is convinced: the most important thing about nutrition is that it should be comfortable and tasty. You don«t have to keep yourself within some generally accepted framework and eat only boiled chicken breast with cucumber. At the same time, she prefers fiber and protein and has greatly reduced carbohydrates and sugar.
She also recommended choosing two plates: a small deep one for soups and a beautiful flat one on which you could, if desired, plate a dish as in a restaurant.
«It»s very important to eat with a fork, slowly. When you put food in your mouth and are chewing, put the fork on the table or at least don«t load the next bite onto it immediately—this way you»ll eat slower,« Veronica added. »Taste receptors are on the tongue, and as soon as you swallow food, it becomes fuel and energy, not taste.«
She was shocked when she saw in her diary how much extra she ate during the day: spoonsful when tasting dishes while cooking, snacks, treats with tea, sandwiches—all of this not only maintains weight but rapidly increases it.
Veronica also noted that you need to be ready for sweating, especially in the first months when water will be actively leaving the body.
«Losing two to three kilograms (4-7 lbs) a month is already an excellent result. Don»t rush. The kilograms accumulated over years; now you need to lose them slowly so they don«t return,» said the Siberian woman.
Among things that need to be completely excluded, at least in the first two to six months, is alcohol. It retains water and stimulates overeating.
«You can eat everything. Yes, absolutely everything. But it»s advisable in the first two months to reduce (or better, exclude) the consumption of sugar, flour products, porridge, and other carbohydrates. A sharp refusal from favorite foods will lead to breakdowns and binges—eat «forbidden» foods only in the first half of the day and in small amounts to curb the «craving»,« advised Veronica.
She allowed herself marshmallows with tea, Turkish delight with coffee, and even chocolate—it«s important not to combine protein and a large amount of carbohydrates. A lot of protein? Add fiber. Instead of mashed potatoes with a cutlet, it»s better to slice vegetables and add herbs.
Change Your Attitude to Food
Veronica urges always trying to plate dishes beautifully and not grabbing food on the go. You«ll have to get rid of a number of habits instilled by the older generation.
«At first, it will be difficult to eat slowly. Don»t pounce on the dish, chew, feeling the flavor palette. Many will be very surprised that halfway through the meal they will already feel full. If you feel this, stop. Forget how we were taught as children that the plate must be empty after eating,« urged Veronica Belousova.
No one argues that throwing away food isn«t the best solution. Food can be stored in containers, or you can cook less next time. Overeating is one of the main causes of excess weight.
The most important thing is to return food to its function: it«s fuel, energy to live. Food should not be a reward or a way to eat away stress, to console yourself, or to get through a difficult time.
«We eat to live, not live to eat,» emphasized Veronica. «At the same time, you don»t need to torture yourself. If you«re very hungry, then eat a vegetable salad or something protein-based. Citrus fruits help many. I saved myself from hunger with a couple of pomelo slices.»
Veronica doesn«t set a goal to reach a specific number on the scale. Health and comfort come first.
«I want to enjoy life. Going to stores, buying a human size. Before, I wore eight to eleven XL—now I»m a completely different person. Very happy,« assured the Siberian woman.
She believes that anyone can lose extra kilograms if they truly want to. The main thing is not to despair and fight persistently for health.
Earlier, we told the story of a pediatric surgeon who lost 50 kilograms (110 lbs).
