This nurse lost 55kg all thanks to this popular diet - and she looks incredible!

Bailey Ryan has always been a self-confessed 'fat' kid.

But two years ago, after she started working 12-hour night shifts and went through a difficult breakup, Bailey really started to pile on the pounds.

The 24-year-old admits "I started shutting myself into my apartment on my days off, I avoided friends and had delivery and take out restaurants on speed dial I was tired from working long hours and upset at my failed relationship and was binge eating to make myself feel better.

"I knew that I was unhealthy but more than anything, I was unhappy."

Working as a nurse, Bailey was motivated to lose weight because she felt like a hypocrite when caring for her patients.

So instead of feasting on fast food takeaways every night, Bailey decided to try a paleo diet, where she avoided processed foods, dairy and grains.

By eating paleo Bailey lost a dramatic 55kg, going from 132kg to 79kg!

"It hurts me now to think of how I felt about myself and how I treated myself before I lost weight.

"I was working at the hospital by this time and to get into work I had to walk two blocks from the parking ramp to the hospital building. I would be out of breath by the time I got there. Then I'd work all night caring for patients that were often there due to lifestyle choices.

"I realised that if I didn't change something, I'd be headed for a life destined for difficult medical complications too.

"I also felt like such a hypocrite and a bad example. I didn't want to be advocating a healthier lifestyle to patients but not living like it myself."

While Bailey began to lose weight just by changing her diet, she now loves kayaking, hiking, rock climbing and has even run a half marathon!

Now unrecognisable, she said: "Losing weight has changed my life in more ways than I can count.

"Everything is different. It's changed my goals, my relationships, my hobbies and my perspective."

”I would tell someone to start slowly, it can be overwhelming to make a lot of huge changes in one day. You're more likely to give up if you're taking on too much at once.

"Also, remember to run your own race. Don't compare your progress with anyone else's and don't listen to anyone who says you can't do this.

"As long as you're making an effort, you'll also be making progress."