Weight Loss Success Stories: The Best of 2009

Double the 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

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