Entering college at 255 pounds (116 kg) and graduating five years later at 123 pounds (56 kilograms), Wang Sanmei, a student at Southeast University Medical School, achieved a remarkable transformation during her academic journey. Her academic performance also skyrocketed from 49th place to 1st.
Recounting the “Chubby Girl” experience
On the stage of the “Most Influential Graduates” selection event, Wang Sanmei, a confident and elegant young woman born in the ’90s, delivered a passionate speech in a white dress, sharing her perfect transformation story titled “My Transformation, My Attitude, I Am Sanmei.”
Her speech was met with thunderous applause. “I used to weigh over 100 kg, was introverted, lacked confidence, and hoped to hide in the crowd without being noticed. Sadly, I was always the center of attention wherever I went,” Wang Sanmei began, recounting her “chubby girl” experience.
“I come from a small town in Yili, Xinjiang. I wasn’t originally overweight, but after a car accident in elementary school, a small stone lodged in my brain, and I lay unconscious in a hospital bed. It was only after surgery that I narrowly escaped death. To recover, I had to take a large amount of hormones, which caused my weight to skyrocket.”
The room fell silent, and some students who were unaware of her story showed expressions of surprise.
Running off the pounds and going through several pairs of shoes
In 2010, Wang Sanmei was admitted to Southeast University, standing 1.6 meters tall and weighing 255 pounds (116 kg). “In the freshman group, I was unique, larger than other girls, and ate more. After just a few movements, I was out of breath during military training.” For the first time, Wang Sanmei realized that her weight was a significant issue. By the end of her first semester, she was determined to start losing weight.
Starting from the second semester of her freshman year, Wang Sanmei committed to running on the track every night. Initially, she ran 8 laps, gradually increasing to 10 laps. She ran 4,000 meters daily, reducing her time from 3 minutes to 2 and a half minutes. Eventually, others noticed her weight loss plan.
“Many classmates joined me in running, both boys and girls. Initially, everyone was enthusiastic, but gradually, the number of people in the running group dwindled until it was just me again.”
The cold winter nights were particularly harsh, and the wind made the track even colder. Everyone tried to avoid going out. However, she persisted for four years, running daily regardless of the weather and wearing numerous sneakers.
How did she manage to keep running 4,000 meters every day? “I did think about giving up. Whenever I wanted to find an excuse to rest, another voice would emerge, saying: ‘If you find an excuse to give up today, you’ll have another excuse tomorrow.'”
Over the years, Wang Sanmei’s weight gradually dropped from 255 pounds (116 kg) to 123 pounds (56 kg). “I used only to wear T-shirts and jeans, but now I can wear beautiful dresses. I feel lighter and finally like an average girl.”
Creating her study method and achieving top grades
Wang Sanmei also achieved a remarkable turnaround in her studies. She told reporters her grades were not good when she first entered college. All students had to study basic subjects like advanced mathematics, chemistry, and physics in their freshman year. Coming from Xinjiang, Wang Sanmei had a weaker foundation, ranking 49th among 108 students. Since embarking on her weight loss journey, her academic ranking has improved proportionately due to her weight decrease.
By her sophomore year, professional courses began. “We are in the medical field, which requires learning a vast amount of professional knowledge, with all textbooks being thick volumes.” Faced with these daunting materials, Wang Sanmei devised an excellent method called the “Sanmei Summary.”
“I summarized all the textbooks and took notes, which eventually became independent books themselves.” Following this method, Wang Sanmei studied for three hours every day, condensing textbook content into her notes and highlighting key points. Over time, the material became firmly embedded in her mind. From her sophomore year onward, she consistently held the top position in her class.
Wang Sanmei, with her inspiring story, was selected alongside nine other classmates as one of the “Top Ten Most Influential Graduates” of the year.
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
