Eva Rut Gunnlaugsdottir 35-year-old Icelandic woman who lost more than 50 kg on the “selfie diet” Country: Iceland

Biography of Eva Rut Gunnlaugsdottir

Eva Rut Gunnlaugsdottir, now a 35-year-old resident of Reykjavik, Iceland, weighed over 130 kg in January 2014. After the birth of her two children, she realized it was time to take control of her health and lose weight. Eva was horrified when she looked at photos of herself, but these unattractive images helped her stick to a healthy eating regimen and track her progress. She decided to post her self-portraits on the internet to hold herself accountable. Eva said, "I posted the first picture as a joke. I felt really bad and looked bad. And I realized that if I started losing weight, tracking the changes would help me stay on track." Before starting her "selfie-diet," she ordered food delivery, ate fast food, and consumed high-calorie products like cheese and fatty sandwiches. Eva snacked on chocolate, cookies, and chips. Determined to change her eating habits and lose the extra kilos, Eva switched to healthy homemade meals, including soups, lean meats, and salads. She also stocked up on fruits and vegetables and eliminated certain food categories from her diet, such as wheat, sugar, and starch. Despite struggling to stick to diets in the past, Eva maintained excess weight since she turned eighteen. Although many of her selfies only captured her face, it was enough for her to see the progress she was making. Under the first photo, she added the caption: "Just a joke, selfie no.1." On her toughest days, when she craved chocolate, Eva reviewed her pictures, starting with the worst and moving towards the best, to remind herself that her "selfie-diet" was working. This self-reflection gave her renewed motivation. Her friends also noticed the changes in Eva's appearance and shared their impressions, which helped her stay committed to her diet. By the end of 2014, Eva had lost over 50 kg. She said, "I felt fantastic. Actually, I started feeling that way a few days after I started, and that feeling never left me." After giving birth to her children almost seven years ago, Eva's weight spiraled out of control. It was difficult for her to maintain discipline during her "selfie-diet." However, her children, Eva and Agast, became an additional incentive for her to lose weight. She realized that her excess weight was a real barrier to fully engaging with her children. She simply lacked the energy, mobility, and zest for life. Eva preferred passive relaxation with a table full of food rather than going for a walk on weekends. Whenever she didn't eat at a certain time, she immediately felt deprived. "Food was like a drug to me," Eva said. "I never limited myself to a small piece of chocolate. I needed more. The first two to three days of the diet were a little difficult, but since then, everything has become routine. I feel like I'm floating on a pink cloud." Eva felt a genuine surge of energy. She could easily get up in the mornings. There were also significant emotional changes. Over time, the physical pains, most likely caused by her obesity-related problems, disappeared. She adds that she no longer worries about traveling abroad. Previously, she was always anxious about whether she would fit in an airplane seat and be able to fasten the seat belt. "I still feel pain looking at the first few selfies from last year," Eva concludes. "But I always feel better when looking at the photos taken at the end."