'I lost 1st 8lb in six months - and it wasn't diet or exercise that made the biggest difference'

Among them is Emma Vergun, who revealed how she shed 1st 8lb ahead of her April wedding, having documented her remarkable six-month transformation on TikTok.

In a recent clip, the content creator said she dropped from 150lbs to 128lbs while standing at 5ft 8in tall, losing just under a pound weekly. Interestingly, she surpassed her target, having initially aimed for 135lbs.

"The three big changes were a calorie deficit, lifting weight and getting sleep," she explained to her followers.

Vergun has also addressed common misconceptions about targeted fat loss, responding to numerous queries from viewers.

"I've been getting a lot of comments asking 'how to get fat away from your legs, and from your abs and from here. You can't spot reduce fat; when you lose fat, it just goes from all over," she shared.

Her calorie deficit emerged organically during the wedding planning process, due to the mental demands of preparation naturally suppressing her appetite.

"My calorie deficit was very unintentional at first, I think, because preparing a wedding puts a lot on your mind. It's not stress, it's just food noise, and all that other stuff goes away," she shared.

During the opening three months, Vergun concentrated heavily on cardiovascular exercise, incorporating extensive walking and stairmaster sessions without closely monitoring her diet.

However, this approach left her dissatisfied with the results, as she admitted: "I got skinny fat, so then I decided it was time to start lifting weights."

Emma's gym sessions remained modest at just half an hour daily, focusing on achieving a lean, toned appearance rather than building significant muscle mass.

When it came to her diet, incorporating protein into her meals proved transformative, despite her natural preference for carbohydrates.

"I did start incorporating more protein and noticed a huge difference once I did. And I'm a girl who hates protein and loves carbs," she admitted.

Emma says she developed a psychological technique to combat unnecessary snacking and carbohydrate cravings.

She explained: "A trick that I did was, if I was craving some carbs, I'd ask myself, 'Would I eat protein?' And if it was a no, then I wouldn't eat, because that meant I wasn't hungry, I was just bored, or looking for a dopamine hit."

She permitted herself occasional sweet treats throughout the process, though she noted her relationship with processed foods has fundamentally shifted.

"What I've noticed is that when I now have junk food, I literally feel sick," she revealed.

Sleep was perhaps the most significant factor in Vergun's physical transformation, with the difference between adequate and optimal rest proving substantial.

She stressed: "I noticed the biggest difference in my physique when I get nine to 10 hours of sleep versus even eight. Women need sleep to recover.

"I genuinely see such a difference when I get a good night's sleep in my physique, in my attitude, in my everything, versus when I'm not getting sleep. Once I started focusing on sleep, that's when a lot of things changed for me."

Crucially, Vergun reported no adverse health effects from her weight loss journey.

"I haven't lost my period, I haven't lost my hair. All my symptoms have been amazing, I feel so much clearer, and so much more energetic," she concluded.