Woman Loses 211 Lbs., Gets First Kiss

by Katherine Tweed (Subscribe to Katherine Tweed's posts)
Oct 13th 2009 6:00PM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation

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Kimberly Anne Evans was overweight her entire life. Teased in grade school, never asked to a dance in high school, she used her weight as body armor, shielding herself from a cruel world. As an adult, she reached 347 pounds.

"Food was my friend, my blanket, my comfort, my lover -- my drug," she told NBC's "TODAY" show as the newest member of the Joy Fit Club.

Unlike many obese people, Kimberly never dieted. Instead, she constantly subsisted on fast food in huge portions for three decades. She would eat multiple McDonald's breakfast burritos in the morning, two cheeseburgers with fries for lunch and pizza followed by ice cream at dinnertime. It came to approximately 9,000 calories a day, nearly five times the recommended daily allowance.

One day, however, she saw a movie that would change her life.

Just after turning 39, a friend gave Kimberly "Phantom of the Opera" starring Gerard Butler. Kimberly had bad knees, her back constantly hurt and she was diagnosed with high blood pressure. The role of the phantom as an outcast and someone yearning for connection struck a note with her. "That day, I just decided," she says. "I never had any doubts."

The impact of the film gave her resolve to switch her diet. She dropped cheeseburgers in favor of turkey subs, and swapped regular soda for diet.

Eventually she started walking and then began riding a stationary bike. In less than 21 months, she lost 211 pounds. At 40, she had her first kiss. "He told me he wished he'd known because he would've made it even more special," Kimberly told "TODAY." "He's very sweet and we've been getting along very well."

Although she knew that it would take a long time to reach her goal, she was filled with joy every step of the way just knowing she had found the will to change her life at 40. "If you were as sad and unhappy as I was," Kimberly tells others looking for motivation, "Just know you can do it."

Looking for more diet inspiration? Click on our success stories gallery below, or learn about That's Fit readers who have shared their amazing weight-loss journeys.

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Weight Loss Success

By Mary Kearl

Mother-Daughter Diet Duo: Sherrie and Courtney Harris, Before

Sherrie's Starting Weight: 285 Lbs
Courtney's Starting Weight: 217 Lbs
Typical Pre-Diet Day: For both, most meals consisted of fast food, fried foods and carb-heavy sides like mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. Neither paid attention to portion sizes. "Exercise was changing the channels on the remote, or going up the stairs to watch TV in our rooms as we ate M&M's or Cheez-Its," Sherrie adds.

Provided by Sherrie Harris

Double the Weight Loss Success

Provided by Sherrie Harris

Mother-Daughter Diet Duo: Sherrie and Courtney Harris, After

Sherrie's Current Weight: 138 Lbs
Courtney's Current Weight: 151 Lbs
Why Weight Watchers? "My attitude towards diet and fitness has done a full 180! I am well aware now of what 'portion control' means! It's all about portion control in actuality. With Weight Watchers, I can have whatever I want, however, [the question is] whether or not I want to spend the points for whatever the item is. I treat my points allotment as a checkbook. Would I buy something at full price or wait until it goes on sale? I try always to get the most bang for my points," says Sherrie.
Why Losing Together Helped: "Because if I got discouraged and felt I couldn't do it, I could go to Mama, and we would get through it together," Courtney says.
Sherrie adds, "Courtney is a culinary student and does 95 percent of the cooking in our house. She was doing the cooking when I started Weight Watchers and would call me at work and ask what I wanted for dinner. We would discuss the healthy way to prepare it, and it was done ... So it has encompassed my entire family."

Provided by Sherrie Harris

Successful Spouses: Cathy and Pat Sullivan, Before

Cathy's Starting Weight: 217 Lbs
Patrick's Starting Weight: 257 Lbs
Typical Pre-Diet Day: No breakfast; no real meal for lunch -- just junk food like chips, crackers and fast food; and dinner consisted of fatty foods, few vegetables and fruits, and dishes served with sauce or gravy.

Provided by Cathy Sullivan

Successful Spouses: Cathy and Pat Sullivan, After

Cathy's Current Weight: 164 Lbs
Patrick's Current Weight: 185 Lbs
Why Weight Watchers? "Just being in a room with other people in the same situation [helped]. Plus, it was encouraging to listen to other people's stories and ideas, and to share our own insights," Cathy explained.
Why Losing Together Helped: "Because I wasn't trying to cook for me and then something else for my family," says Cathy. "Because we both wanted to feel better and look better, and we were both on the same page all the way around. We were able to support each other in every aspect."
Tip for Those Going Solo: "If you can commit yourself to doing it, then great. But if you want extra incentive, extra motivation and a better chance of taking the weight off and keeping it off -- then try it with someone. You are not alone -- you have a support system, even if it is just one other person. In the end, you are more motivated because you want to prove to this other person that yes, you can do it!"

Provided by Cathy Sullivan

Twin Sisters Fabiana and Simona Dixon, Before

Fabiana's Starting Weight: 197 Lbs
Simona's Starting Weight: 197.4 Lbs
Typical Pre-Diet Day: "We would wake up and go to McDonald's for an Egg McMufffin with two hash browns and a glass of orange juice. Then we would each have a bagel with extra cream cheese to hold us over until lunch, when we would go to Chipotle and have the steak burrito with everything (not to mention a side of chips and guacamole each). Around 3 or 4 p.m. we would have a couple of candy bars and a bag of chips each (Munchos or Doritos with a king-size Twix and/or Kit Kat bar). For dinner we would eat two baskets of chips with salsa, soup and a bean and rice burrito, a chicken enchilada and rice and beans. We would then hit up Baskin-Robbins for a double-scoop hot fudge sundae. We had as many calories in a day as we now have in a week! This was our starting point and our rock bottom," the sisters explained in an e-mail.

Courtesy of Fabiana and Simona Dixon

Fabiana and Simona Dixon, After

Fabiana's Current Weight: 149.6 Lbs
Simona's Current Weight: 147.2 Lbs
Why Weight Watchers? "Weight Watchers taught us how to stop dieting -- which in our opinion means a temporary solution -- and start living, which is a change in lifestyle. They helped us get to the core of our issues and find out why we find comfort in food. Only after these issues are addressed can a permanent change truly be made," the sisters explained.
Why Losing Together Worked: "Having a partner to lose weight with ... keeps you accountable, provides support and keeps you motivated. You don't want to let them, or yourself, down ..."
Accountability: "Going to the gym with someone gives you less opportunity for excuses. Plus, you know if you don't go, that person will be calling and calling you to get you to come."
No Cheating Allowed: "On bad days or days when one of us feels discouraged, one will deter the other from hitting the Taco Bell drive-thru and instead suggest a walk or making Mexican food at home, with fat-free beans and fat-free sour cream. You would be amazed at how good you feel that you didn't 'cheat' that day!"
Staying Motivated: "You see the other one's losses on the scale and if they can do it, you can too!"
Keeps You on Your Toes: "Working out together brings out a little of our competitive sides, and we then push one another to run that extra two minutes, sprint that much harder, lift that extra five pounds or play that extra game of basketball."

Courtesy of Fabiana and Simona Dixon

Amy Hess (Partnered With Her Weight Watchers Team), Before

Starting Weight: 212 Lbs
Typical Pre-Diet Day: "[I ate] lots of fast food and restaurant take-out. I never felt like I was done with a meal unless I was very full. And every meal consisted of an appetizer, main course and dessert."

Provided by Lynette Giles McMillin

Amy Hess (Partnered With Her Weight Watchers Team), After

Current Weight: 155 Lbs
Why Weight Watchers? "If a day goes by that I don't get a workout in that was planned, I feel slighted, cheated out of that time. Trying new foods, many of which are suggested at meetings and in our group, has shown me so many new options and made me realize that I like more variety than I imagined."
Why Losing Together Helps: "Working out with a partner makes the time go by faster. I have someone there cheering me on -- [it also builds up] my competitive side, which also makes the workouts more exciting. It's easier to fight the good fight when you have reinforcements."

Provided by Lynette Giles McMillin

Lynette McMillin (Partnered With Her Weight Watchers Team), Before

Starting Weight: 158 Lbs
Typical Pre-Diet Day: "First, I would drink Coca-Cola all throughout the day. I would go for days not remembering my last glass of water. If I ate breakfast, it was Chick-fil-A biscuits with hash browns or a sugary cereal. Lunch was usually large portions of leftovers from the night before, or nibbles of chicken nuggets off of the kids' plates with cookies, chips and candies throughout the day. Dinner [consisted of] meat-heavy dishes and lots of potatoes or pasta. It would be pizza and fast foods if it was a busy night ... and after the kids were finally in bed, let the snacking begin!"

Provided by Lynette Giles McMillin

Lynette McMillin (Partnered With Her Weight Watchers Team), After

Current Weight: 122 Lbs
Why Weight Watchers? "I needed to see people who were transparent in their struggle so I didn't feel like such a loser in this area of my life. I also needed to see people who were succeeding, so that I knew it would be possible to reach my goals. At the Weight Watchers meetings there were beginners, people who were still losing, people who were backsliding and people who had already reached goal -- I needed every one of their stories!"
Why Losing Together Helped: "I am a very busy mom of four who is not used to spending time and energy on herself. If I had tried to do this alone, I would have quit very early in my program. When I started asking these girls to hold me accountable, they helped turn this discipline and new lifestyle into fun. They encouraged me when I had a bad week, gave me new recipes, exercised with me when I didn't think I could work out, slapped me around when I started to backslide and make dumb choices and cheered my successes in a way that made me feel that this time and effort I was finally spending on myself was worth it."

Provided by Lynette Giles McMillin

Comments (86)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

BigD 10-13-2009 @ 8:19PM

everyone should follow your HEARTS and GOALS life bring such HAPPINESS when we have patience. He should fell very LUCKY

naudhiab 10-14-2009 @ 7:01AM

ah-mazing! she is sexii lookin

Jennifer 10-13-2009 @ 8:58PM

God Bless her! What a beautiful story! :o)

pinkey 10-13-2009 @ 11:49PM

She is beautiful....good for you.I can't believe how old she looked,she looks ten years younger.

ANGI 10-13-2009 @ 9:16PM

I am happy for her and it's a great story. I do take issue with the way they used her first kiss in the title and insuated that she couldn't have found love or been kissed before she lost weight. It's true she's probably healthier and happier, and SHE got her first kiss after this transformation, but it's not like fat people cannot be loved or kissed and the writer is insulting people with this title.

Janice 10-13-2009 @ 9:13PM

I still can't understand where all that loose skin goes.There is no exercise that firms ALL of it.Most normal people do not have the money to have it removed.My friend lost a lot of weight,exercised regularly and looked like hell with her clothes off.I am not trying to be ugly or uncaring.I just want to know what people do.

irr 10-13-2009 @ 10:16PM

Exercise and gradual loss truly make this less of an issue. If the weight is lost in a healthy manner, and slowly, the skin will usually maintain more firmness.

Believe it or not, skim milk is also a perfect addition to any reduction plan, in order to keep the skin tighter... Forget fat free, your skin will fall apart, especially if you are over 30.

God bless this woman. I am glad she took off the mask to reveal her true inner beauty. Listening to her in the video gave me goosebumps. I do not know her, and yet I feel very proud of her.

George 10-14-2009 @ 11:24AM

About the extra skin after losing weight. If you lose it too fast the only thing you can do is have it tightened with surgery, but if you lose it properly which should be 1-3lbs a week the skin will have time to shrink itself properly.

KweenBee 10-14-2009 @ 4:51AM

Janice, I know that when I lost 60 lbs in 2 months, I did it on a modified atkins and even my daughter said that I didn't get the loose skin. Because it is a protien, salad and veggie diet, it feeds muscle and not fat cells. I know that people who do the bypass surgeries or lapbands get all the hanging skin because the weight is lost too fast.

shana 10-14-2009 @ 9:18AM

I've often wondered about that until I saw it on TV. It just hangs and has that creepy look. Eventually, surgery is required to remove the excess skin and it is VERY EXPENSIVE, VERY EXPENSIVE. IT IS A LONG HAUL, BUT IF YOU HAVE THE LITTLE POUNDS, YOU WANT TO SHOW OFF YOUR NEW BODY. She is very attractive and looks healthy.

mark turner 10-13-2009 @ 9:18PM

My best wishes to her! And I hope this resonates with the "Please just accept me as I am because it's a lot of work to change myself" lazy liberal bunch. These people HATE having to work on a positive self-image.

Alison 10-13-2009 @ 11:29PM

Um excuse me?? Where did you get that load of crap? I am liberal and a soldier in the United States Army, so i am in fantastic shape and eat an extremely healthy diet. My husband is the same and he is also liberal!

I sure don't meet many conservative Republicans who seem to care about their figure and their lifestyle! But hey, just an observation...

neice 10-13-2009 @ 11:00PM

have you had tyroid check it changes alot

xxandromeda 10-13-2009 @ 9:31PM

I really can't stand how these types of stories reinforce the idea that overweight people all eat themselves that way. Only fattening foods, ridiculous portion sizes, and no exercise. It's just not true for all overweight people. The more that the news only features this kind of story, the more the general population thinks that fat people just lack common sense.

Katie 10-13-2009 @ 9:48PM

I do agree. I am over 340lbs myself but it is not due to over eating, I was 171lbs in August and in February I was 328lbs after my 18th birthday. They never found out what happened and it is now 19 years later. I eat normal portions and not junk food at all. I do not even drink sodas or sugary drinks. I did do atkins several years ago and i lost 70lbs. It was great, took 3 years to gain it back once I went off the diet. I am seriously considering the bypass surgery. I wish there was something or someone out there that could help all of us who are seriously overweight and realize it is not the Food.

Michelle 10-13-2009 @ 9:57PM

Thanks, xxandromeda, for adding this comment. Some people's body types and metabolism are just different. I eat healthier than anyone I know, and work out hard for an hour every single day, and I'm still a size 12 and the weight will not budge. And there are women who sit near me in my office who are size 2 and come in every morning with egg and bacon and cheese sandwiches! I could never ever eat such an unhealthy breakfast. But they are naturally skinny and could never have a larger frame like mine. My blood pressure, etc., is excellent, but it seems almost impossible for me to be a smaller size. I'm so tired of this idea that people over a certain weight just sit around all day watching tv and eating chips and soda. So... I'm done with my rant... but I was really relieved to see your comment!

Alecia 10-13-2009 @ 9:35PM

I lost 60 pounds on the raw food diet that I started last year. Now I'm down to the 120s. But not only did I lose weight, my skin cleared up, teeth got whiter, I don't need glasses any more, I don't suffer with depression and anxiety, and my mind is a lot clearer in general. It's the healthiest way to eat. Period. Because when you cook food, it destroys the nutrients in it. People ask me all the time where I get my protein. It's like they never heard that you can get the healthier type of protein in raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, sprouts, greens, and berries. Weight Watchers is ok for a start I guess in cutting back on bad food, but you still have that option. But with every cooked meal, there is a more delicious raw version, and it's actually funner preparing it.

cheyennerundgren 10-13-2009 @ 9:37PM

That's an amazing story! I don't even know her personally but I am so proud of her! You Go Girl:)

a man 10-13-2009 @ 9:40PM

There is one group of people in the entire world, no matter what country, region, skin color, age group, that those people fall into where they are humiliated for their entire lives. That group is the overweight. I know this because I'm in that group. There is no politically correct term for when you're fat.