How One Woman Lost 40 Pounds Eating McDonald's Daily

A 22-year-old woman from Michigan, USA, claims to have shed 40 pounds in four months despite eating daily at McDonald's. Dara Vasquez shared on social media that her diet was quite straightforward, even as people were quick to judge her.

Vasquez weighed 245 pounds in 2018 and now weighs 138 pounds. She lost nearly half her body weight using a "caloric deficit" method. A caloric deficit means burning more calories than you consume. You can burn calories with more exercise or simply reduce the amount of calories you eat. However, it's important to note that the caloric deficit approach can lead to nutritional deficiencies, so it's advisable to consult a registered dietitian before opting for this kind of diet.

Vasquez's video gained attention and even sparked a debate online. "People were quick to jump to conclusions and say I'm not healthy because I ate McDonald's every day," Vasquez recounted, "but what helped me lose weight this way was the accessibility of fast-food chains. They're everywhere, the menu has a variety of options, and you can always make modifications to your order. I lost 100 pounds in a year by doing this, so others have no right to judge me."

Vasquez added, "I'm aware that it's not the healthiest process. I'm just saying we don't have to be miserable while losing weight. You can still eat fast food occasionally unless your blood test results are particularly bad. The data varies from person to person, and I'm sure some people would prefer this diet over any other," she said.

Vasquez also spoke about the type of diet she chose: "A caloric deficit is simply eating fewer calories than we burn each day. You can still meet this goal even if you're eating fast food."

Vasquez's journey started about five years ago when doctors told her she was pre-diabetic and that if she didn't lose weight, she would suffer for the rest of her life. "It was frightening to hear as a teenager that my weight could affect my whole life. I've struggled with being overweight for as long as I can remember, and losing weight was tough and scary, but life is short, and I knew that if I didn't try, my situation would be worse," she explained, adding that she feels "better than ever" today.