FRANCESCA Bell, 41, tried “everything” to lose weight, from fad diets, hypnosis, meal shakes, and homeopathic remedies – but “nothing worked”.
At 5ft 4in tall, the marketing manager said she reached her heaviest weight of 95kg (14st 13lbs) in 2024 and could “barely fit into any of her clothes”.
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One colleague even asked if she was expecting her third child.
“It was heartbreaking,” she recalled.
After a trip to Italy, Francesca, who lives near Bakewell in the Peak District, became fascinated by the way Italians ate and moved.
“I thought, if they can stay slim eating pizza, pasta, and gelato, why can’t I?” she said.
“I fell down a rabbit hole of research.”
She read studies from Harvard and the Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, learning about Italian food traditions.
“I learned a lot of common-sense stuff, like eating more fruit and veggies, but also some interesting habits.”
Inspired by what she learned, Francesca developed her own “Britalian Diet,” setting a calorie limit and following “golden rules” like no milky coffees after 11am and always having a sweet breakfast.
“I couldn’t believe the weight was dropping off while eating all the things I loved,” she said.
From May to December 2024, she lost 6st 4lbs, eating more than 365 croissants, indulging in pizza, pasta, and enjoying wine.
“I didn’t have to starve myself,” she said. “It was brilliant. I didn’t have to cook misery meals like grilled chicken and lettuce.”
Francesca’s weight had fluctuated over the years, but during the pandemic, it “crept on very gradually”.
‘HAD ENOUGH’
By 2024, she felt “fed up, embarrassed, and frustrated”.
“One of my worst moments was at a work conference,” she recalled.
“I couldn’t fit into anything, so I had to buy a size 18. I cried in the changing room.
And then a colleague asked, ‘Are you pregnant?’”
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That moment pushed Francesca to take action. “I thought, ‘I have to do something about this,’” she said.
She booked a “bucket-list trip to Italy” with her family in April, hoping it would spark motivation, but “I hadn’t lost a pound by the time we got there.”
However, after seeing family photos she “hated,” she realised, “I’ve had enough of this.”
Determined to make a change, Francesca researched how Italians stayed slim while enjoying their food.
“I love Italian food, and I wondered how they could eat pizza and pasta without gaining weight,” she said.
“I thought, if they can do it, I can too.”
‘DIDN’T RECOGNISE MYSELF’
She adopted a “Britalian” lifestyle, setting a calorie limit of 1,400 and cutting back on ultra-processed foods.
“I started walking 10,000 steps a day, but I still drank wine and had dessert,” she said. “I didn’t have to give up the things I loved.”
By December 2024, Francesca had lost 88lbs (6st 4lbs), dropping from a UK size 18 to a size 8.
“I didn’t even recognise myself in the mirror,” she said. “I’ve got a jawline and cheekbones now!”
Francesca now shares her journey with others.
“I named it the Britalian Diet, and I even wrote a book about it,” she said.
“It’s not about restriction – it’s about balance and enjoying food.” She believes her success came down to mindset.
“You think nothing works, that you’ll never lose weight,” she said.
“But you don’t need a restrictive fad diet. I’m at peace now.”
Francesca’s ‘Brazilian diet’
This is a typical day of eating for Francesca on the Brazilian diet:
Breakfast: a croissant with jam and a coffee
Lunch: a toasted ciabatta sandwich with Parma ham and cheese, with fresh vegetables or a salad
Snack: a platter with “picky bits”, such as olives, cheese, breadsticks and fruit and an espresso
Dinner: a light soup or a salad with pasta and a small glass of wine
Dessert: a scoop of gelato or a fruit pudding
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