Andreina De Sousa Abreu, 40, from Hounslow, West London, has transformed her life after shedding more than 20 stone without resorting to surgery or weight-loss injections. At her heaviest, she weighed around 22 stone and wore a size 28, after becoming addicted to Krispy Kreme doughnuts – consuming up to 50 for breakfast alone, funded by working two jobs.
A daily doughnut habit that spiralled out of control
During the pandemic, Andreina's eating habits worsened dramatically. Her daily routine included a 48-pack of original glazed doughnuts from Krispy Kreme, costing £44.97, often supplemented with extra doughnuts to reach 50. She would wash them down with a milkshake, snack on chocolate, crisps, and drink plenty of Red Bull. Lunch was typically a whole loaf of bread, and dinner was a takeaway or processed food.
Her addiction took a toll on her body and her finances. She said: "I used to live near a Tesco. I would walk to it every morning and buy around 50 original glazed doughnuts and wash it down with a milkshake. Eating became an addiction. I would eat and eat and eat until I couldn't even recognise myself anymore. I knew deep down it was self-inflicted, but I couldn't stop."
A traumatic event triggered the spiral
Andreina wasn't always overweight. A traumatic incident, combined with the pandemic, led her to seclude herself. She explained: "I wasn't always morbidly obese. I used to be fit and healthy. After everything I went through, and then COVID, I secluded myself into this dark little bubble. I didn't want anyone to notice me."
At her peak, everyday tasks became monumental challenges. Walking, getting out of bed, and taking her children to school were all hard. She felt ashamed and avoided going out. Her food addiction controlled her life and her bank balance – she had to work two jobs: one to fund her eating disorder, the other to support her family.
The turning point: a doctor's warning
In April 2019, a GP appointment became a wake-up call. She hadn't had a period for two years and feared cancer due to strange cysts. The doctor attributed these to her weight and warned: "If you carry on like this, you won't be alive." Andreina recalled: "I remember thinking, 'I don't want to die.'"
Determined to change, she redirected the £1,260 she previously spent monthly on doughnuts towards therapy. This helped her convert destructive habits into positive ones. Without gym access during lockdown, she began following YouTube workout videos at home, completing a Les Mills 45-minute body pump session daily. She also started filming her sessions and sharing them on social media to stay accountable.
From doughnuts to dumbbells: a new passion
Andreina lost 20 stone in just over a year during COVID. In October 2021, she discovered bodybuilding after watching Brazilian bodybuilder Francielle Mattos on Instagram. She said: "She had this beautiful, muscular but feminine physique. I saved loads of her videos and she became my inspiration. I wanted to know what that feeling was like."
Now weighing 9 stone (63.2 kilos) and wearing size XXS (six to eight), Andreina has become an international bodybuilder with eight championship victories. She trains daily, with four leg sessions, one upper-body session, and active recovery plus mobility exercises weekly, alongside daily posing practice. Her diet now includes porridge with whey protein, lean proteins, rice, fish, chicken, and vegetables, carefully structured to fuel her training and manage her PCOS.
Perseverance over motivation
Reflecting on her journey, Andreina emphasised that perseverance, not motivation, was key. She said: "Motivation isn't what gets me out of bed because motivation is just a feeling. It's perseverance. You just keep pushing forward. It's still not easy, but if I can do it, anybody can do it."
She added: "To be honest, I just went all in. I found my why, my reason. I wanted to be the beacon of light for all the women who were in my position." Her journey wasn't without trial and error, but she eventually found a sustainable approach.
Looking ahead: aiming for IFBB Pro Card
Andreina is now preparing for her ninth competition of the season, with ambitions to secure her IFBB Pro Card and compete at the Arnold Sports Festival in Birmingham in 2028. Her story is a powerful testament to the fact that dramatic weight loss can be achieved without surgery or injections, through determination and lifestyle change.
Her transformation serves as an inspiration to many, proving that even the most entrenched habits can be overcome with the right mindset and support.
