A video of a woman trying on old jeans after dropping four dress sizes has garnered more than 1 million views on TikTok.
Noon Mirghani, 26, told Newsweek that she lost 60 pounds in four months—going from 196 pounds to 136 pounds—by eating one meal a day for a month before switching to a low-carb, keto diet and walking at least 10,000 steps daily.
In the TikTok clip, which has racked up more than 85,000 likes, a size-18 Mirghani stands in front of a mirror wearing the jeans. A few seconds later, the video cuts to her trying on the same black trousers as a size 10.
"I've had to buy new clothes—and even replace them multiple times!" she told Newsweek. "This is the smallest I've ever been as an adult, so I'm learning how to dress for my new body, which has been both exciting and a bit challenging."
Mirghani, from London, said she used to consume junk food daily and eat snacks, such as chips, chocolate and cookies. She estimated that she consumed more than 3,000 calories per day.
"There was no real balance to what I was eating, just a lot of high-calorie, sugary, and carb-heavy foods," she said.
In June, Mirghani kick-started her diet by consuming one meal a day followed by a strict low-carb, keto diet for three months. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that carbohydrates make up 45 to 65 percent of total daily calories.
Expert Advises Against Eating Only One Meal a Day
Dr. Jane Glazebrook, a consultant doctor at the Slimming Clinic, an online weight-loss clinic in the U.K., described eating one meal a day as an "extreme version of intermittent fasting."
She told Newsweek: "In my opinion, [it's] not generally advisable. Whilst a calorie deficit is needed to lose weight, there are other important factors to consider.
"Eating just one meal a day will make it harder to get your Recommended Dietary Allowance of essential vitamins and nutrients that your body needs, it can also negatively impact metabolism, causing your body to store more fat than it should. It can also lead to loss of lean body mass, which is associated with an increased risk of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or dyslipidemia. It is not ideal for maintaining or building muscle."
No Longer Counting Calories
Mirghani said: "At the start, I was roughly eating around 1,200 calories, and now I don't count calories at all. I mostly focus on how many carbs I consume and try to aim for less than 30g of carbs per day.
"I cut out sugar and most carbs. I only drank water, black coffee, peppermint tea, and green tea."
Christopher Gardner, the Rehnborg Farquhar professor of medicine and director of nutrition studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, previously told Newsweek, "The goal [of the keto diet] is an extreme restriction on carbohydrate to the extent that the body shifts from burning a combination of glucose and fat for fuel, to only burning fat for fuel—a condition referred to as ketosis."
Mirghani is approaching the five-month mark on her weight-loss journey. While she's less strict with her diet now, she continues to limit her carbohydrate intake.
"I follow a more flexible low-carb approach with the occasional keto treat like keto bread and brownies. I'll reach five months into this journey by November 13, and I'm proud to say it's been a life-changing experience," she said.
"This journey has transformed me both physically and mentally," she added. "Walking has become a grounding daily habit, and my relationship with food has changed profoundly—I no longer crave sugar like I used to, which feels incredibly empowering. It's been rewarding to see how much I've grown, not just in terms of my health but in confidence and self-discipline."
TikTok Reacts
Mirghani's clip—which she captioned, "Same jeans, just 4 months apart"—has received widespread support, with many viewers praising the project manager.
"That is amazing. You are an inspiration for all of us out there that we are struggling to make it!" one wrote.
"How??? I have been stuck at the same weight for a month already. its making me go crazy," another added.
Mirghani told Newsweek: "There's been skepticism about how quickly I lost the weight, but for me, this journey was about taking control of my health naturally, without surgery or other interventions. At 26 and with no health issues, I was determined to achieve this through diet and exercise alone.
"This path demanded discipline, self-belief, and patience, and I'm proud to say I've come out stronger. Now, I have a balanced relationship with food and no longer experience intense cravings. I've successfully overcome my former sugar addiction, which had been a long-standing struggle."
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