Losing weight helped these nine women reclaim their bodies—and their lives
By: The Editors of Women's Health
It’s easy to dust off your weight loss resolution with spring right around the corner. But if the looming deadline of shorts season isn’t enough to motivate you to lose that last 5—or 50—pounds, find some inspiration from these incredible slim down success stories. (Search: Reach your ideal weight in 4 weeks) For these nine women, peeling back the pounds yielded changes that were more than skin deep. Their newfound physiques have helped them feel stronger, healthier, and sexier. Find out how they did it.
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Super-sized portions and mindless snacking helped Jennie Nickel pack on over 70 pounds during her pregnancy. (Video: Keep your portions in check) But even nine weeks after her daughter was born, Jennie was only down 15 pounds. "I didn't want to go back to work, because I worried that all of my clients would think I was still pregnant!" she says.
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To control her munching, Jennie began keeping a food journal. She also started exercising to fitness DVDs and signed up for a 5K. (Get the only exercise book you'll ever need!) Now 60-plus pounds lighter, Jennie loves the feeling of setting and accomplishing new goals—she’s even finished several triathlons.
Find out how she did it!
By the time her boyfriend proposed, Kristen Collins Eccleston’s weight had climbed to 180 pounds on her 5’6” frame. A diet of fast food, pizza, and buffalo wings had caught up to her. With her wedding looming, Kristen resolved to slim down. (Need some motivation to slim down? We've got some fitspiration.)
Quiz: Can You Spot the Healthy Snack?
Kristen overhauled her diet—trading in greasy food for lean protein, veggies, and whole grains—and began a walking routine. By the time she walked down the aisle, Kristen had gone from a size 16 to a size 6, and couldn’t wait to have her picture taken with her new husband.
Find out how she did it!
Standing at just 5’2”, Jennifer Martin always weighed around 200 pounds—as much as her husband, who stood a full foot taller than her. The stay-at-home mom hated shopping for clothes, but it wasn’t until she caught herself bingeing on her children’s Halloween candy that she realized things needed to change. (Know how much you're eating with our Fit Tracker tool.)
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Jennifer started tracking her meals and weighing herself weekly, and shed 25 pounds in five months. The weight kept on dropping as she picked up running and hiking. “Exercise makes me feel strong and good about myself," she says. "My thirties are going to be my best years yet!"
Find out how she did it!
Jessica Whitehead used to eat out with her friends every single night. And if dining on restaurant fare daily wasn’t bad enough, she’d always order the largest portion with all of the extras and sides. While Jessica saw “living large” as a sign of success, her weight held her back from doing fun activities such as skiing or playing volleyball.
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When Jessica lost her luggage on a trip to France and found it impossible to shop for clothes in her size abroad, she vowed to overhaul her eating and exercise habits. She went on a high-protein diet, cut back her portions, and hired a personal trainer. In just two weeks, she dropped 25 pounds. These days, Jessica is a trim 145 pounds and “living large” by hiking, rock climbing, and more.
Find out how she did it!
After moving to an Italian military base with her husband, Mary Renwick started eating to fill her days. Indulging on pasta, bread, and cannoli, she quickly packed on the pounds. Mary then gained even more weight after the birth of her two sons.
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A weight-related back injury inspired Mary to sign up for a gym membership. She quickly progressed from the treadmill to bootcamp classes. Now, 100 pounds lighter, Mary is pain-free and in the best shape of her life. "I went from being embarrassed at the gym because I was obese to being asked if I was a personal trainer," she says.
Find out how she did it!
At 23 years of age, Misty Gauthier was diagnosed with prediabetes. Despite being aware that she had a family history of the disease, she would frequently eat out three times a day and put on 60 pounds in four years.
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Misty bought an elliptical to get her weight under control. When her scale stalled, she learned that you have to downsize your portions even for healthy foods. She used to get winded from running around the block, but after losing 90 pounds, Misty actually feels more invigorated after long hikes and jogs.
Find out how she did it!
For Amy Banfield, the proverbial “Freshman 15” became the “Freshman 25.” She hid behind sweats and oversized tees, but it wasn’t until she was turned away from a frat party because of her size that she committed to take control of her weight.
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Amy traded fast food for healthier, low-cal options and replaced cheesy snacks with hummus and carrots. To torch fat, she hit the cardio machines 30 minutes a day, five times a week. It all paid off. By the time she graduated, Amy was the president of her sorority, nabbed a prestigious internship, and rocked a size 4.
Find out how she did it!
Stay-at-home mom Mechelle Wingle kept gaining weight after the birth of each of her four children. On top of the baby weight, Mechelle turned to cookies as comfort food. "I felt that I deserved a treat for dealing with the pressure of raising four kids," she says. The scale topped out at 175 pounds.
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After seeing a friend successfully drop 30 pounds, Mechelle knew that she could regain control of her life too. Before, her days used to drag her down, but now she loves going on long hikes with her family and running on the elliptical.
Find out how she did it!
Between attending cosmetology school and working two part-time jobs, Deana Custer never had time to cook a healthy meal for herself. Things didn’t improve when she was working, either. Her body ached from being on her feet all day. However, the far greater pain was the bruise to her ego. "In the beauty business, you have to look the part," she says. "And I didn't."
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Instead of scarfing down takeout, Deana prepared dinners of lean protein and veggies—and ate the leftovers for lunch the next day. With several 5Ks and a half marathon now under her belt, Deana has more energy than ever and feels confident in everything she wears.
Find out how she did it!
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