Understanding Glycemic Index Helped Charlotte Get Leaner

Name: Charlotte Israel

Age: 57

Height: 5 feet, 5 inches

Before weight: 296

How I gained it: I was a "chubby" child. My uncle would tell my mom, "Irene, it's just baby fat." But I was just fat, baby!

As an adult, most of my weight problems were rooted in stress and constant yo-yo dieting. If God had made chickens without wings, it would be easy for me to lose weight. I love chicken wings! When I dream of flying, my wings are drenched in hot sauce and teriyaki.

If I had a dollar for every pound I lost and regained, I could have purchased Aol from Time Warner!

Breaking point: My breaking point came when I went on a physician's weight loss plan and lost 20 pounds through caloric restriction and shots. After stopping that diet, I started gaining almost a pound every three days. My metabolism was shot. I gained 80 pounds in less than six months! I lost all hope.

The day before I got married, I went to get a pedicure and the owner of the salon asked me how long I had been a diabetic. I didn't have diabetes, but my feet looked like the feet of an extreme diabetic. My wedding dress was a size 28. I was almost 300 pounds and heading towards disease.

How I lost it: My husband is a holistic physician, and he began to teach me about healthy food. He introduced me to a program that used the glycemic index and supplements to manage my increasing blood sugar levels.

My current eating plan is based upon the glycemic index and consists of mainly fruits and vegetables and lean meats -- mostly fish, chicken and turkey. I use nutraceuticals -- like multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D, and CLA -- but no pharmaceuticals of any kind.

I detox my body every three months. It was during a detox that I identified a sensitivity to wheat and gluten. This explained the difficulties that I had with weight loss and excess inflammation. Not only does a low glycemic eating plan help manage my blood sugar levels, it helps with my hunger levels and maximizes my fat burning potential.

Now since I know how to eat properly, I can build some chicken wings into my routine as a special treat. Instead of food being a foe, it's now a friend.

Eating this way helped me to lose 12 inches of belly fat and improved the circulation in my legs and feet. I actually have five pounds more muscle now than when I weighed 296 pounds. All of my weight has been lost as body fat which is why I went from a size 26/28 to a size 14/16.

A typical day for me consists of walking three to five miles with weights that weigh anywhere from six to 12 pound weights. Then I eat a breakfast of either fruit salad and/or a veggie omelet. Mid-morning and evening, I eat a snack -- either a piece of fruit, veggies or a high fiber bar. Throughout the day, I drink lemon water and a Chinese tea called Bojenmi.

My weight loss journey has actually created a new career for me! I am now a certified sports nutritionist and am working toward becoming a personal trainer so that I can help extremely obese people lose weight healthily -- and keep it off. I work with athletes, children, diabetics and anyone who wants to live a healthy and happy lifestyle.

I still have a ways to go, but I'm happy with my progress. I used to feel like a fat caterpillar. Now I am wearing makeup, and I can wear heels. This caterpillar is transitioning into a beautiful butterfly.

After weight: 233

Charlotte has maintained her weight loss for one year and continues to get leaner.

Charlotte's not the only one inspired to help others adopt a healthy lifestyle. See how Megan is using her success to coach others to become their own success stories.

Are you inspired by our That's Fit Success Stories? Motivate others by submitting your own! Share how you've transformed your body through diet and exercise by sending us e-mail at successstories [AT] thatsfit [DOT] com.