Before she discovered Wood’s ‘28’ fitness and nutrition plan, the Melbourne psyche nurse was overweight, unhappy and looking at having surgery.
"By 23, I was over 110kgs, and I hated myself," Acciarito told Women's Health. Her tactic? "I avoided mirrors, I cut off size tags from all my clothing so I didn't have to see that I was a young girl wearing size 22 tops."
It was a plan that wasn’t working. But it wasn’t until 2015 and the scales tipped 115kg that Acciarito sought help. Firstly to reduce her 20E breasts.
"I remember going to see the plastic surgeon, excited at the thought of having 'normal-sized breasts'". But the surgeon refused to operate on Acciarito, telling her she was morbidly obese and needed to lose weight.
After setting herself a goal she shed 25kg in 8 months, but it was tough and a lonely battle. "Usually I am someone that thinks 'I can't' before 'I can', so changing my mindset has been the most challenging aspect by far." Thankfully, that has all changed and the scales align with her new sense of self-esteem.
Now, a fully-fledged member of the 28 community, Acciarito has shed a total of 45kg and couldn’t be happier.
"It's crazy to see just how much my goals have evolved and become more challenging in the 12 months that I have been on 28," she says.
"I now believe in myself."