The best bikini diet EVER? The 23-year-old who lost 72lbs: Mari Llewellyn

A 23-year-old who was battling with her weight for years managed to completely transform her body in less than a year by weight lifting while following a low carb high fat diet.

Mari Llewellyn was 245 pounds at her heaviest before she changed her lifestyle to focus on weightlifting which has not only led her to lose 72 pounds, she has toned her body into a solid 173 pounds of muscle.

The recent college graduate from Philadelphia is a tall 5’11 who just a year ago was depressed, unmotivated and unhappy until she discovered fitness – which she admits has ‘changed her whole world’ – wants to share her journey with everyone so she created a gym guide to help you get fit for summer.

Transformation: An overweright 23-year-old managed to completely change her body in a year by weight lifting and following a low carb high fat diet (pictured in March)

Difference: Mari Llewellyn was 245 pounds at her heaviest (pictured left last year) before she lost 72 pounds and toned her body into a solid 173 pounds of muscle (pictured right recently)

Weight loss: The recent college grad from Philadelphia is 5’11 and a year ago was depressed and unmotivated until she found fitness (pictured left fall 2016 and right, summer 2017)

Fitness: She created her own fitness program Mari Easy Fitness which provides gym guides for purchase but Mari also posts transformation videos as well as gym workouts on her Instagram

She created her own fitness program Mari Easy Fitness which provides gym guides for purchase but Mari also posts transformation videos as well as gym workouts on her Instagram page which has almost 230,000 followers.

Mari shared how fitness shaped who she is today and in just over a year her life has been turned upside down because fitness, ‘Has allowed me to discover who I really am and what lights the fire inside me,’ she admits.

She wants everyone that is starting off a weight loss journey to know: ‘Fitness is so much more than losing a few pounds.

‘I went from not even being able to complete a one mile hike, to having a website of guides that help women change their lives.

‘I went from disliking who I was to showing thousands of women how they can love themselves and improve their lives too. If I can do it, you can too,’ she confessed.

Mari admits that the version of herself she is today is much different than the one she used to be just a year ago.

Toned: Mari lifts six days a week but makes sure to incorporate cardio on the stairmaster for a max of 20 minutes or some 30 second ‘sprints (pictured left fall 2016 and right, a month ago)

Same but different: Both of these photos (left last year, right two weeks ago) show Mari at 190 pounds with the differences being her muscle mass, strength and diet

Remembering who she used to be, Mari shared that she never had any goals, drive or passion and that even the smallest challenges overwhelmed her which lead to her giving up.

‘I expected good things to just ‘happen’ to me and pitied myself if they didn’t,’ Mari admitted about herself.

As for what Mari’s workouts entail, she lifts six days a week but makes sure to incorporate cardio on the stairmaster most days for a maximum of just 20 minutes or some 30 second ‘sprints’ to get her heart rate up.

The three major aspects of her journey that have changed since the day she started till today are her muscle mass, strength and diet.

She admits that her muscle mass has increased immensely, she’s stronger now than she ever was before and her diet has changed because she actually eats a lot more explaining: ‘With more muscle mass it takes more calories to maintain my weight, which makes it easier when it comes time to lose fat.’

While different factors went into her shedding pounds, the main point Mari wants everyone to know is: ‘Weightlifting is a win-win weight loss tool. While putting on more muscle you are burning calories.’

Eating: Mari says her diet has changed because she actually eats a lot more now because with more muscle mass it takes more calories to burn (left 13 months ago, right a month ago)

‘With more muscle you will need to eat more to maintain your weight, AKA it is easier to lose fat,’ she explained.

Mari shared what finally made her want to lose weight in the first place confessing, ‘My transformation began when I hit rock bottom. Some tough experiences led me to where I am today and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

‘This journey wasn’t just about losing weight. I discovered who I am, and what makes me happy. Now, I am the healthiest and happiest I have ever been.

‘The first piece of advice I give to everyone is start small. I began my journey with just one walk a day and cleaning up my diet. I told myself just two pounds a week and look where it got me – anyone can do it!’

Mari urges all of her followers to understand: ‘Please keep in mind that your happiness should not revolve around the scale.

‘How you feel and look in the mirror is 100x more important. Pushing yourself and setting goals is what shapes you as a person.’