These inspiring people dropped pounds, won confidence, and gained a new outlook on life
By: The Editors of Fitbie
It’s hard enough to lose 10 pounds, let alone 100. But that’s exactly what these people did. Meet the members of our 100-Pound Club—inspiring individuals who’ve dropped more than 100 pounds and have kept it off. Read on for their incredible and heartwarming stories about how they shed the weight and regained what really matters: their health and happiness.
Related: Weight Loss Secrets from The Biggest Loser Club
Bree Boyce, 22, used to stock up on fast food and takeout—and then lie about it. She dreamed about winning pageants, but at 234 pounds, she didn’t fit the mold of a healthy, relatable role model.
Related: 10 Ways to Enjoy Fast Food Without Ruining Your Diet
Hitting up the drive-thru doesn’t have to drive up your weight. Select the smartest foods on the menu when you pick up a copy of Eat This, Not That!
Bree lost 112 pounds and was crowned Miss South Carolina in 2011. (She even won the preliminary swimsuit competition!) These days, she’s using her platform Eating Healthy and Fighting Obesity to teach and inspire others to eat well.
Find out how she did it!
Adrian Crouch, 22, had always been quiet and overweight—a perfect target for middle-school bullies. Their name-calling drove her to eat even more, and Adrian packed 230 pounds onto her 5'4" frame. (Related: Foods You Should Never Ditch While on a Diet)
Slim down eating the foods you love with our Flat Belly Diet!
Thanks to inspiration from The Biggest Loser’s Tara Costa, Adrian started making over her diet with simple swaps and began running. Now, 110 pounds lighter, she has set her sights on crossing the finish line at the 2012 Pittsburgh Marathon.
Find out how she did it!
Marie Francis Barry, 50, had been blessed with a naturally athletic body, but the combination of pregnancy, her mother’s death, and a divorce caused her to pound back soft drinks. (Related: Why Even Diet Soda Is Bad For You) She was putting down about 3,000 calories a day and ballooned to 247 pounds.
Video: The worst sweet drinks
Thanks to the help of a trainer, Marie started a weight resistance program, learned to prioritize sleep, and, yes, cut the cola. With her father and daughter cheering her along, Marie lost 100 pounds.
Find out how she did it!
When Gina Dean, 28, entered college, she gained about 40 pounds in her first year from eating fried and fat-filled foods (learn which 7 Most Fraudulent Foods will derail your diet). Over time, these habits continued and her weight topped out at 250 pounds.
Video: Jennifer Leonard shed nearly 300 pounds--find out how!
Gina’s grandmother’s death prompted Gina to make some major life changes. She ditched the junk food and started eating better, while also working out several days a week. These days she wears a size 6 or 8 (down from an 18 or 20) and weighs 145 pounds.
Find out how she did it!
Chad Cornman, 30, had always been a big kid. But after quitting football and dropping out of high school, the weight piled on to a dangerous 389 pounds.
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With the help of small meals, high-fiber foods, lean proteins, and a whole lot of willpower, Chad lost a lot of weight—fast. He’s healthier, happier, and the girls can’t leave him alone.
Find out how he did it!
Scott Morrison, 24, had always been an athlete and wrestled as a heavyweight in college, so he never thought twice about his weight. Then, soon after graduating, a diet of fried foods, pizza, and wings bumped Scott’s weight up to more than 300 pounds. What’s more, doctors diagnosed him with type 2 diabetes.
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A diet makeover and lots of time in the gym have whittled Scott’s weight down to 205 pounds. He’s off of all of his diabetes medications and feels better than ever. (Learn how to Eat Like a Biggest Loser!)
Find out how he did it!
Promise Jones, 48, started eating all of the time to deal with an abusive husband. He was happy only when she was cooking and eating. Though the abuse lessened for a while, her weight climbed to an unhealthy 320 pounds.
Related: Eight reasons you can’t stop eating
Promise has since separated from her husband and decided to take control of her weight for good. With the help of a food journal, six small meals a day, and early morning workouts, Promise dropped 117 pounds in a year. (More: Snacks That Power Your Weight Loss)
Find out how she did it!
Phillip Adlof had always wanted to be big like his father. Size meant strength, so the self-described “scrawny boy” intentionally bulked up. But after he busted his knee, Phillip’s muscle gave way to flab, and he packed on 360 pounds. (Related: 7 Causes of Weight Gain You Can't Control)
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Thanks to Weight Watchers and workout DVDs, Phillip shed 171 pounds. Not only did his body shape up, but he also became a better man to his wife and daughter. “I became a better father, a better husband, a better person,” he says. “I have learned that being healthy, and being around, is the best way to protect my family.”
Find out how he did it!
Sandi White, 55, had always had a complicated relationship with food. Her family thought she was overweight and made her join Weight Watchers at age 14, so Sandi learned how to “sneak eat.” Eventually her weight reached 348 pounds.
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At present, Sandi is 124 pounds lighter and participates actively in her Weight Watchers group. Losing weight has helped Sandi find more energy to deal with her fibromyalgia, and she feels sharper than she has before. (Related: 11 Fast Fixes For Instant Energy)
Find out how she did it!
No matter what emotion she was feeling, Ariel Tranchell, 25, always turned to food. The constant eating caused her weight to creep up to 250 pounds in high school and added up to 308 pounds once she reached college. As a result the once outgoing girl began to shy away from going out with friends because she was unhappy with her appearance.
Get flat, firm and sexy abs with the Women's Health Big Book of Abs
Thanks to what she learned at Weight Watchers, Ariel weighs less than 200 pounds today. Her health is in excellent condition and people have even dubbed her “Skinny Minnie.” (Related: Dine Out Like a Biggest Loser)
Find out how she did it!
The effects of Anthony Nieves’s late-night takeout binges and soda consumption showed. By the end of high school he weighed 300 pounds, and Anthony’s parents frequently voiced their concern about his size. After one such confrontation, Anthony realized that he needed to clean up his health for himself and his parents, as well as his only son.
To start, Anthony cleared out his cabinets and fridge, and restocked his kitchen with healthy foods. Within 8 months, he shed 100 pounds, and he’s continued to lose weight. Anthony’s greatest motivator? His son. “The best way to repay my son for the love that he gives me is to provide him with the love and support that I can now give thanks to my better health,” Anthony says.
Find out how he did it!
Bryan Kinnamon will never forget the look on his son’s face after he was kicked off a rollercoaster because the safety latch wouldn’t close. He had used his kids as an excuse to sit around and not leave the house, but knew he needed to change.
Small Changes, Big Weight Loss
Instead of sitting in front of the TV and binging, Bryan started counting his calories and hitting up the basketball court daily. The work paid off: He’s now 130 pounds lighter. Sticking to his diet is a challenge, but his kids keep him going.
Find out how he did it!
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