Maria Marques had struggled with her weight for years, but it wasn’t just about food. It was about stress, self-confidence, and the overwhelming feeling of being stuck in a cycle she couldn’t break. Four years ago, after having her last child, she found herself gaining weight in a way that felt impossible to reverse. “Everything - mental health, lockdown, kids, house, no social life - it all played a role,” she says.
Like many, stress profoundly affected her lifestyle. Sleepless nights, low energy, and constant snacking became routine. “I would wake up at three o’clock in the morning, get the kids ready for school, come home, and just go through the day snacking all the time,” Maria recalls. “No matter what I tried, the weight wouldn’t go down.” Starving herself and intense workouts didn’t work. The weight just kept coming back.
Breaking the cycle
Maria had tried working with a personal trainer but found the experience more stressful than supportive. “She put a lot of pressure on me by making me start counting calories, taking pictures of everything I ate, drinking specific things, [and] avoiding others. It just added more stress,” she says. “I trained for two months and actually gained weight instead of losing it.”
That’s when she made a choice. “I sat down with my husband and said, ‘The same amount I spend on a personal trainer, I’ll put into trying [Numan’s Weight Loss Programme].’” It was a decision that changed everything. “Since my first treatment, I noticed a difference. A week later, I was sleeping better, feeling more active, and I stopped snacking.”
As part of the Weight Loss Programme, Maria was offered health coaching with Tia. “Tia is amazing. She understands that calorie counting stresses me out. Instead, she helped me focus on portion sizes. I don’t check the labels anymore because seeing those numbers used to send me into a panic. Now, I just eat what makes sense for my body.”
A new relationship with food
For Maria, food had always been a source of struggle, dating back to childhood. “No one ever taught me the value of food or how to eat properly to avoid gaining weight.” With Numan’s support, she found a way to navigate those deep-seated habits without feeling overwhelmed. “People always say, ‘Don’t eat bread, don’t eat rice, don’t eat pasta,’ but Tia told me, ‘Do what works for you.’ She never pressured me, just helped me find a way to make things work.”
That approach made all the difference. “Now, I serve my family a normal meal, and I take a smaller portion for myself. If I’m still hungry, I have some vegetables, like carrots. I don’t feel deprived, and I’m not scared of food anymore.”
The power of support
Maria credits much of her success to the ongoing support she receives from her coach. “Every morning, I wake up to a message from Tia asking how I’m doing. She checks in after the week, sees how I’m managing my portions, and even helps me make small changes—like switching from protein shakes to natural protein sources.”
Her relationship with stress has also transformed. “Before, stress controlled my eating. Now, I feel in control. I’m sleeping eight hours a night, I’m more active, and for the first time in years, I actually enjoy looking in the mirror.” Even her family has noticed. “My husband asked me, ‘What happened to you? What is it about the Weight Loss Programme that’s making you so happy?’”
For those struggling with stress-related weight gain, Maria has a clear message: “Never give up. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. I was ready to give up, but I sat down and had an honest conversation with my husband. I told him I wasn’t happy, I wasn’t going out with my kids because of how I looked. And he supported me in giving this a try.”
The numan take
For Maria, the Weight Loss Programme was the turning point she needed. “I’d tell anyone considering it: don’t stress about the numbers. Look at the portions. If you start obsessing over calories, you’ll lose sight of what really matters.” Her journey isn’t over, but she finally feels like she’s in control. “The [Weight Loss Programme] is my light right now,” she says, smiling. And for the first time in a long time, that light isn’t at the end of the tunnel—it’s right in front of her.
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