That's Fithttp://www.thatsfit.comThat's Fithttp://www.thatsfit.com/media/feedlogo.gifThat's Fithttp://www.thatsfit.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Man Loses 260 Pounds: Now He's an Ironman!http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/23/man-loses-260-pounds-now-hes-an-ironman/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/23/man-loses-260-pounds-now-hes-an-ironman/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/23/man-loses-260-pounds-now-hes-an-ironman/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

before and after Chad Soileau

Photo: Chad Soileau

Imagine being so overweight that when you tried and failed with a diet, you would gain back between 75 and 120 pounds. Imagine being so encumbered by your own body weight that you suffered from everything imaginable, from hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux disease to high blood pressure, depression and sleep apnea. Finally, imagine being so helpless in your own skin that it cost you your career in the military.

That 'was' the life of Chad Soileau, who in March 2006 weighed in at 464 pounds. But after his obesity prevented him from accepting a promotion to 1st Lieutenant in the Army and drastically threatened his health, Soileau underwent the procedure of RNY gastric bypass surgery to initially shed some pounds. Afterwards, he vowed to change his eating habits and exercise regularly to eventually hit his target weight of 205 pounds.

Along the way, his mini-goals were simple, realistic ones, including driving his truck without having his belly touch the steering wheel, riding a roller coaster again, to fly in an airplane without having to wear an extender belt, and, eventually be able to walk one mile.

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]]>Armyfat lossFatLossguys-guideiron manIronManmilitarymotivationtriathlonweight lossWeightLossMyatt MurphyMon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 ESTAli Lost 100 Pounds and Kept it Off for Five Yearshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/23/ali-lost-100-pounds-and-kept-it-off-for-five-years/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/23/ali-lost-100-pounds-and-kept-it-off-for-five-years/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/23/ali-lost-100-pounds-and-kept-it-off-for-five-years/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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Ali Shipp

Ali, before
Photo: Ali Shipp

Name: Ali Shipp

Age: 29

Height: 5 feet, 6 inches

Before weight: 245

How I gained it: My mom was a single mother when I was young. She worked a lot, so it was up to my sisters and me to make our meals. There was no structure, so I never learned about portion control or how to make a balanced meal. I ate tons of pasta, potatoes and bread -- huge portions of them at almost every meal.

During the summer when I was out of school, I had the whole day to myself, and I would cook so I'd have something to do. I'd make huge breakfasts -- with potatoes and pancakes -- and then big lunches and dinners, too. I ate out of boredom and for comfort.

I rarely dieted, but I did try exercising when I got a little older. I would workout to Jane Fonda videotapes, and I'd lose maybe nine or 10 pounds. My clothes would fit a little better, but there was never lasting change. I just never had the determination to really get to it and transform myself.

Breaking Point: I became a flight flight attendant in 2004 and had the opportunity to observe a lot of different people. I began to notice differences in the way people interacted with each other. Thin people seemed like they were heard more and acknowledged. Heavier people, I noticed, had to talk louder or be very animated or boisterous to be heard. I didn't want to have to try that hard to be heard or overcompensate just because I was overweight, so I decided to make some real changes in my life.

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]]>dietexerciseinterval trainingIntervalTrainingrebounderrunningtrampolinetreadmillweight lossWeightLossMelissa JoulwanMon, 23 Nov 2009 10:00:00 ESTKara Combined Exercise Time and Family Time to Lose 107 Poundshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/16/exercise-with-family-to-lose-weight/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/16/exercise-with-family-to-lose-weight/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/16/exercise-with-family-to-lose-weight/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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Kara, before
Photo: Kara Masucci

Name: Kara Masucci

Age: 33

Height: 4 feet, 11 inches

Before weight: 222

How I gained it: When I was younger, I ate all the time. Food was always around, and it was yummy. I was active, and I burned it off. But I remember my mom and grandma slapping my hand when I went for the second cupcake and saying things like, "Don't eat that, you're already too big."

As an adult, I enjoyed going out to eat, and I was apathetic because I was already overweight. I just thought, "I'm already big, I might as well have the cheese fondue!" As a Nurse Practitioner, you would think I would know better, but book smarts and street smarts are different. So I resolved myself to just be happy, and I thought I was.

Breaking point: When my daughter was one year old, I started to have some health issues. When I look back at my pictures now, I see how much weight I was carrying, but at the time, I thought I looked the same as when I was a freshman in college. I was overweight, but not "obese."

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]]>dietjenny craigJennyCraigsuccess-storiesweight lossWeightLossMelissa JoulwanMon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:00 ESTCatherine Lost 30 Pounds with CrossFit and Home Cookinghttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/09/catherine-lost-30-pounds-with-crossfit/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/09/catherine-lost-30-pounds-with-crossfit/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/09/catherine-lost-30-pounds-with-crossfit/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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Catherine Walker Hart, before
Photo: Catherine Walker Hart


Name: Catherine Walker Hart

Age: 30

Height: 5 feet, 7 inches

Before weight: 168

How I gained it: Food addiction and overeating runs on one side of my family -- fast eating runs on the other side. I got both! I've always loved to eat and have always been a fast eater. Eating way past my full point was a daily occurrence in my life.

Growing up, I was very active and had a pretty decent metabolism, so I used to get away with eating too much. After I got married in 2006, I was no longer as active as I had been and my overeating started to catch up with me. My husband and I also became the "king and queen of takeout." When you eat most of your meals from restaurants, you don't have control of what goes into them, and the portions are larger than one person needs. I also was a bit of a carb addict, easily eating four to five times the appropriate amount of carbs in my meals. My husband and I also developed an ice cream habit. We could go through an entire pint on a nightly basis.

The more weight I put on, the more uncomfortable I felt, which only led to more overeating. And I was not burning off any of it! I tried several attempts at the gym, but I always felt lethargic and unmotivated. Eventually, I gave up.

Breaking Point: I started to notice that I could no longer cleverly hide my weight gain with baggier clothes. I have a small frame, so there was a window of time when I could hide extra pounds, but I was gaining weight beyond that window. The depression about my weight really kicked in when I had to buy a new pair of jeans in a larger size for the third time.

I became incredibly self-conscious about my weight and felt very uncomfortable in my own skin. I liked to think of myself as a strong, active person, and there I was carrying around an extra 35 pounds. I felt like I wasn't myself.

My weight was increasing, and I wasn't having any success changing to a healthier diet. In fact, I don't think I even understood what it meant to eat healthier. My grandfather had been a lean, strong, active athlete his entire life, but his addictive eating cut his life short. I knew in my heart that I had his genes and that if I didn't change my lifestyle now, I could be on the road to obesity with serious health consequences. I needed to kick it in the butt! I decided right then and there that "being heavy" was just a phase: I would not be a heavy person for the rest of my life.

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]]>Crossfitdietsuccess-storiesThe zone dietTheZoneDietweight lossWeightLosszoneMelissa JoulwanMon, 09 Nov 2009 10:00:00 ESTCaroline Freed Herself of Fast Food and Lost 145 Poundshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/02/fast-food-restaurants-eliminated-for-weight-loss/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/02/fast-food-restaurants-eliminated-for-weight-loss/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/11/02/fast-food-restaurants-eliminated-for-weight-loss/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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Caroline Nittolo, before

Caroline Nittolo, Before
Photo: Caroline Nittolo



Name: Caroline Nittolo

Age: 35

Height: 5 feet, 2 inches

Before weight: 271

How I gained it: I have been overweight my entire life, but I gained the majority of the weight over the past five years. My dad was very sick and in the hospital for a long time, and I used food as an escape. I ate fast food three or four times a week; I was a fast food drive-thru queen! My favorite was McDonald's, but I would also go to Wendy's and Burger King. I always felt happy while I was eating the food, but I would feel guilty when I finished.

I never got out of the car, thinking that no one would see how big I was if I used the drive-thru. I ordered super-sized meals, but drank a Diet Coke with them, kidding myself that would make a difference. I do miss Ronald, Wendy, and the King, but they were no friends of mine. They were my worst enemy.

Breaking point: After my father passed away from complications from diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, I hit rock bottom, and I was still using food as comfort. I went to see the doctor, and my blood pressure was very high. For the first time, I had health issues, and it scared me. Right around that time, I had to travel for a month on business/pleasure and had to take 14 different flights. I was so mortified that the seat belts didn't fit me! The worst part of the whole experience was that most of the flight attendants automatically brought the seat belt extender to me. They knew just looking at me that I would need it. It was horrible! I knew I was big, but I tried to block out the fact that most people could see how big I really was.

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]]>diabetesheart diseaseHeartDiseasesuccesssuccess-storieswalkingweightweight lossweight watchersWeightLossWeightWatchersMelissa JoulwanMon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 ESTTed Trashed Junk Food to Lose 60 Poundshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/26/ted-quit-eating-junk-to-lose-60-pounds/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/26/ted-quit-eating-junk-to-lose-60-pounds/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/26/ted-quit-eating-junk-to-lose-60-pounds/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Ted Hebert, Before

Ted Hebert, Before
Photo: Ted Hebert

Name: Ted Hebert

Age: 35

Height: 5 feet 10 inches

Before weight: 211

How I gained it: I was always skinny growing up, even in my teens when I began to eat junk all the time. A normal lunch was two double cheeseburgers, six chicken nuggets, a large shake and a pie. Dinner was usually more of the same or canned spaghetti and meatballs. I also ate candy bars, chips and ice cream all the time. I never put on a pound because I was young and active. In 1995, I weighed 140 pounds, and was actually a little underweight. Then, I got engaged, settled down and became very sedentary. My day consisted of sitting at a desk with a bag of chips and a couple of candy bars. Then, I would eat drive-through junk for lunch. My wife is a fabulous cook, and would make wonderful lasagna, stuffed shells, etc. for dinner every night. In between all of that, I would down about two liters of soda every day. Exercise was something other people did, not me. Sit on the couch watching TV is what I did.

My sedentary, lazy lifestyle, combined with just awful eating habits, packed the pounds on pretty quick. Even though I knew I had gained weight, I was in denial. I kept telling myself everyone gets heavier as they get older. I told myself that for 13 years!

Breaking point: The breaking point for me was being sick all the time. Before I got heavy, I rarely even caught a cold, but during the last few years, I caught nasty colds all the time, and the flu would whack me at least a couple of times a year. In February of 2008, I had a terrible flu that I couldn't shake, so I went to see a doctor. On the way into the doctor's office, the nurse weighed me on the super-accurate medical scale. I could not believe what I weighed: 211 pounds! I stand 5 feet 10 inches tall, so that was way too heavy.

At that moment, it clicked. The thought of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, clogged arteries and possibly leaving my kids with no father ran through my head. Even though I knew for years I was overweight, I finally decided to do something about it. I also felt that if my body was in better shape I wouldn't get sick so often.

I realized I needed to change my attitude about food and exercise. I looked at the wrapper after eating a greasy burger, and saw all that fatty grease. It's pretty disgusting. Would you lick the grease off a burger wrapper? Heck no. So, why eat all the fat and grease in the burger?

Continue reading Ted Trashed Junk Food to Lose 60 Pounds

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]]>junkfoodsubwaysuccess-storiested hebertTedHebertJacki DonaldsonMon, 26 Oct 2009 10:00:00 ESTRoseann Lost 90 When She Turned 30http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/19/roseann-lost-90-when-she-turned-30/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/19/roseann-lost-90-when-she-turned-30/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/19/roseann-lost-90-when-she-turned-30/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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Roseann Dashkowitz, before

Roseann Dashkowitz, Before
Photo: Roseann Dashkowitz

Name: Roseann Dashkowitz

Age: 47

Height: 5 feet 10 inches

Before weight: 240

How I gained it: Growing up in the '60s, eating nutritional, low-fat foods was not a priority for most people, so fat-laden but wonderful homemade meals made up my childhood memories. Having two overweight parents meant that portion control was not important at all, and overeating was a very common thing at my house. Being one of the very few overweight kids in my entire school, my mom put me on my first diet when I was 10, and although the weight slipped right off, it was the beginning of a 20-year weight roller coaster for me. By the time I hit my teen years, I felt very unaccepted in my peer group, and of course, kids that age made sure I knew that I didn't belong. I walked in the door the first day of school of my senior year weighing in at a healthy 140 pounds, and I graduated nine months later at almost 240! I married at 24 and had twins exactly one year later. The next five years proved to be a time of extreme fluctuations in my weight, as I would starve myself, lose 70 pounds or so, and in a matter of months, gain it all back -- plus some. I had begun exercising, but just could not get a handle on how to keep the weight off.

Breaking point: Turning 30 made me realize I needed to make a life-long change. I began to see that my girls needed a mom to help them make good eating decisions, or they, too, would find themselves going through the same pain that I had. I was determined to lose the weight once and for all, and stop the yo-yo cycle.

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]]>Roseann DashkowitzRoseannDashkowitzsuccess-storiesJacki DonaldsonMon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 ESTJeanine Lost Weight to Get Healthy, Not Skinnyhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/12/jeanine-lost-weight-to-get-healthy-not-skinny/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/12/jeanine-lost-weight-to-get-healthy-not-skinny/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/12/jeanine-lost-weight-to-get-healthy-not-skinny/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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Jeanine Slater, Before

Jeanine Slater, Before
Photo: Jeanine Slater


Name: Jeanine Slater

Age: 44

Height: 5 feet 6 inches

Before weight: 204

How I gained it: I began to gain weight while I was in college. I gained 25 pounds in four years, and despite numerous diets and exercise plans, I continued to pile on the pounds. Later, chronic depression and some poor life choices pulled me into a downward cycle of overeating and not exercising. I have struggled with my weight for most of my adult life.

Breaking point: By the summer of 2007, my weight had ballooned to more than 200 pounds, and I cringed every time I looked in the mirror. More important, my only sister had suffered a stroke earlier that year. I had lost other family members to heart disease, hypertension and diabetes and was desperate to save my own life.

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]]>jeanine slaterJeanineSlatersuccess-storiesJacki DonaldsonMon, 12 Oct 2009 11:00:00 ESTHealth Crisis Pushed Keith to Shed 200 Poundshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/05/health-crisis-pushed-keith-to-shed-200-pounds/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/05/health-crisis-pushed-keith-to-shed-200-pounds/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/10/05/health-crisis-pushed-keith-to-shed-200-pounds/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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keith ahrens, before
Keith Ahrens, Before
Photo: Keith Ahrens
Name: Keith Ahrens

Age: 47

Height: 5 feet 10 inches

Before weight: 414

How I gained it: I had followed a no-exercise, sedentary lifestyle for many years. I was troubled with weight as an adolescent but became more fit in my college years. After graduating college, I began to put on the pounds. I ate whatever I wanted, in whatever quantities I wanted. Most of the time, the food choices were high in fat, sugar and carbs. The food choices I made were of little regard or complete disregard to their nutritional content. I had dieted on and off for 23 years, only to relapse and put on more weight each time.

Breaking point: At the age of 45, I weighed more than 414 pounds and suffered a remote silent heart attack that resulted in open-heart coronary artery bypass surgery. After surviving this critical surgery, I invested all of my efforts into getting healthy and losing weight without surgery. It took a life-or-death crisis for me to realize how important it is to make healthy choices.

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]]>keith ahrensKeithAhrenssuccess-storiesJacki DonaldsonMon, 05 Oct 2009 11:00:00 ESTCecily Joined Forces With Friends to Get Fithttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/28/cecily-joined-forces-with-friends-to-get-fit/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/28/cecily-joined-forces-with-friends-to-get-fit/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/28/cecily-joined-forces-with-friends-to-get-fit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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Cecily Jamelia, Before
Cecily Jamelia, Before
Photo: Cecily Jamelia
Name: Cecily Jamelia

Age: 33

Height: 5 feet, 8 inches

Before weight: 162

How I gained it: For about three years, I dated a guy who was really obsessed with fitness and eating right, so I never really needed to be motivated about working out -- he had enough motivation for both us. Our relationship came to an end in January of 2008, and I was freed from the scrutiny (food consumption) and boot-camp-like workouts I had endured. I still liked the results of working out, but without him, I just lacked the motivation of going to the gym. As the year went on, I began eating more and more and working out less and less. Also, I am a mother of two, and my metabolism has never been the same since having kids.
Breaking point: My breaking point was earlier this year. I had been looking at pictures of myself -- and I was the fat friend. My abdomen was so distended, my face was full, and my hips were wide! I weighed myself, and I was at least 20 pounds over my average weight. I started running at the park, which was horrible on my knees, then my friend Bernadette invited me out to hike.

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]]>cecily jameliaCecilyJameliasuccess-storiesvalleywood fit girls clubValleywoodFitGirlsClubJacki DonaldsonMon, 28 Sep 2009 11:00:00 ESTJill Went from Pudgy to Pageantshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/21/jill-went-from-pudgy-to-pageants/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/21/jill-went-from-pudgy-to-pageants/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/21/jill-went-from-pudgy-to-pageants/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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jill knapp before
Jill Knapp, Before
Photo: Jill Knapp
Name: Jill Knapp

Age: 42

Height: 5'8"

Before weight: 237

How I gained it: During my first pregnancy, I gained 50 pounds, and after childbirth, my weight gradually began increasing. As with most women, I became busy with life and forgot the importance of taking care of myself. I was young, and my body didn't feel the extra 100 pounds I had gradually put on over the years. I had bad eating habits, no time for exercise and no real desire to be healthy.

Breaking point: I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy at age 37. I was having headaches after the pregnancy, and I thought it was from having a sick newborn. Finally, at six months, I went to see the doctor to be checked for the headaches, and I found out I had put on 15 extra pounds. It was so depressing. I also found out I have Type 2 diabetes. I was determined to get the weight off, and I did! My husband and kids mean the world to me. Being able to live a long life was an important factor and motivation to lose the weight. In January 2008, I even broke my ankle after slipping on black ice, and I was still able to lose the weight -- my mind was made up that no matter what, it was coming off.

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]]>jill knappJillKnappsuccess-storiesJacki DonaldsonMon, 21 Sep 2009 10:10:00 ESTMother and Son Slim Down Togetherhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/14/mother-and-son-slim-down-together/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/14/mother-and-son-slim-down-together/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/14/mother-and-son-slim-down-together/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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collin and krista robinson
Collin and Krista Robinson: Before
Photo: Krista Robinson
Name: Krista Robinson / Collin Robinson

Age: Krista, 38 / Collin, 11

Height: Krista, 5'10" / Collin, 5'3"

Before weight: Krista, 333.5 / Collin, 249

Krista tells how they gained it: Basically, I've struggled since college with my weight. It started with the Freshman 15. Once I had Collin, there were the challenges of being a single parent, raising an infant, trying to work, going to graduate school -- and things spiraled into doing everything as quickly as I could, meals included. We got into the bad habit in the past few years of eating fast food, store-bought food, take-out foods -- it was a lot of "hurry up and get dinner" so we could do homework and everything else. There was always something else, and our weights quickly got out of control -- we were eating out most meals every week in order to save time. We just needed to stop and think about what we were doing.

Breaking point: The doctor told us both together, with very little subtlety, that we needed to do something right away. Collin's weight was increasing rapidly, and the doctor said this was not OK. So we joined a gym, and we were gung-ho at first. But it faded out because we didn't have time. Then another year slipped by, and we went back to the doctor, who said we needed to make radical changes right away. At the same time, a very close co-worker of mine shared her concerns -- I'd been having a lot of migraines and was sick a lot, and she asked if my weight might have something to do with it.

The weight was just coming on so fast, and I think I was waiting for someone to call me on it. I had a lot of guilt about what was happening to Collin -- he was just eating what I told him to eat, and I really felt responsible for that. I was at my wit's end. One night, I went online and typed in "fat camp," and Wellspring Camps came up. It's kind of an anti-fat camp, really, and I liked the approach. I collected more information, I talked to someone about the program, then I signed up. I was determined to do it without considering the initial impact at that time -- it was that important.

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]]>collin robinsonCollinRobinsonkrista robinsonKristaRobinsonsuccess-storieswellspringsJacki DonaldsonMon, 14 Sep 2009 11:00:00 ESTLaurie Lost Big to Ward Off Diabeteshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/07/laurie-lost-big-to-ward-off-diabetes/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/07/laurie-lost-big-to-ward-off-diabetes/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/09/07/laurie-lost-big-to-ward-off-diabetes/#commentsFiled under: ,

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laurie warren before
Laurie Warren (left): Before
Name: Laurie Warren

Age: 43

Height: 5'5"

Before weight: 260

How I gained it: Just eating everything without conscience, and not being active. I would eat when I wasn't hungry, I would eat when I was cooking, I would lie to myself that I didn't eat all day. I always felt that I was OK-looking, and I could lose the weight when I wanted to. While going through a low period in my life, I also had a terrible shopping addiction, so it just went hand in hand. Whenever I was out shopping, I always felt the need to go and have lunch, then find a pasty shop and eat everything in sight. I have tried so many diets, and I've lost the weight, but I gained it back, plus even more. My husband left me five years ago, and I had been married for 23 years. I have two children, and when he left, I lost weight. When I started to date, I gained it back. At times, I felt so depressed, and I would just eat all the wrong things -- my favorites were cheesecake, pasta and bread.

Breaking point: When my doctor told me she wanted to test me for diabetes. I was like, "No wait, I will lose the weight." All I kept thinking about was my foot getting cut off, and I couldn't paint my toes. My doctor said, "I still need to do blood work," so I agreed. Everything came back positive, and I knew I had to lose weight.

I work at a transitional shelter, and I have to pass through the gym to get to my job. I'd never even thought about working out. Then I just made up my mind, because either I'd end up dying of a heart attack or taking insulin every day.

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]]>laurie warrenLaurieWarrensuccess-storiesJacki DonaldsonMon, 07 Sep 2009 11:00:00 ESTSmall Steps Helped Scott Slim Downhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/31/small-steps-helped-scott-slim-down/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/31/small-steps-helped-scott-slim-down/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/31/small-steps-helped-scott-slim-down/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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scott adams before
Scott Adams: Before
Name: Scott Adams

Age: 35

Height: 6 feet

Before weight: 288

How I gained it: I love food -- fast food, junk food, dining out. I never paid much attention to what I was eating, and I worked too many hours to exercise -- or so I thought.

Breaking point: I was on a week-long vacation in Charlotte and Atlanta visiting family and friends. I stopped by my company's headquarters in Charlotte and met a few co-workers I had never met before. I do not remember who it was, but someone stated that I was much larger in person than he'd imagined. I returned from vacation and jumped on the scale, and I realized I was weighing in at 288 pounds -- just 12 pounds away from 300! In a panic, I turned to the Internet to find healthy recipes.

Continue reading Small Steps Helped Scott Slim Down

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]]>scott adamsScottAdamssuccess-storiesJacki DonaldsonMon, 31 Aug 2009 11:00:00 ESTLeeann Lost 110 Pounds for Her Kidshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/24/leeann-lost-110-pounds-for-her-kids/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/24/leeann-lost-110-pounds-for-her-kids/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/24/leeann-lost-110-pounds-for-her-kids/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Be inspired by our That's Fit Success Stories. Then motivate others by submitting your own. Click here to share how you've transformed your body through diet and exercise.
leann best before
Leeann: Before
Name: Leeann Best

Age: 44

Height: 5'3"

Before weight: 270

How I gained it: During my first pregnancy, I gained 50 pounds and after childbirth, my weight gradually began increasing. As with most women, I became busy with life and forgot the importance of taking care of myself. I was young and my body didn't feel the extra 100 pounds I had gradually put on over the years. I had bad eating habits, no time for exercise and no real desire to be healthy.

Breaking point: After my husband unexpectedly passed away, I realized my life had changed drastically, and I had to make a change as well. I was a 42-year-old woman with two children who depended on me, and I am all they have left. I began to understand in depth how important it is to be healthy. Now I take my health very seriously.

Continue reading Leeann Lost 110 Pounds for Her Kids

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]]>leeann-bestsuccess-storiesJacki DonaldsonMon, 24 Aug 2009 11:00:00 ESTTaylor Dropped 30 to Get Fit and Healthyhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/17/taylor-dropped-30-to-get-fit-and-healthy/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/17/taylor-dropped-30-to-get-fit-and-healthy/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/17/taylor-dropped-30-to-get-fit-and-healthy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Be inspired by our That's Fit Success Stories. Then motivate others by submitting your own. Click here to share how you've transformed your body through diet and exercise.

taylor ryan before
Photo: Taylor Ryan: Before
Name: Taylor Ryan

Age: 25

Before Weight: 140

Height: 5'5"

How I gained it: It all went downhill when I walked onto my college campus. I had always been active enough to keep my southern eating habits from showing on my body, but when I went to school and roomed with an athlete who could eat anything and everything, I couldn't keep myself together. In just one semester, I went from a size 2/4 to a size 8.

Breaking point: I remember going shopping with my mom for new clothes and crying in the dressing room. It was even worse when my bra size went from a 34B to a D cup. It was embarrassing. When I was reminded of my one-time fit lifestyle and size 4 figure, I started focusing and obsessing over it. I stopped eating and started exercising way too much. Sure I lost the weight, but I was sad, never satisfied and hiding my secrets.

Continue reading Taylor Dropped 30 to Get Fit and Healthy

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]]>success-storiestaylor-ryanthe-art-of-weightliftingJacki DonaldsonMon, 17 Aug 2009 11:00:00 ESTAnthony Ditched Junk Food - And 62 Poundshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/10/anthony-ditched-junk-food-and-62-pounds/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/10/anthony-ditched-junk-food-and-62-pounds/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/10/anthony-ditched-junk-food-and-62-pounds/#commentsFiled under: ,

Be inspired by our That's Fit Success Stories. Then motivate others by submitting your own. Click here to share how you've transformed your body through diet and exercise.

anthony riojas
Anthony Riojas: Before
Name: Anthony Riojas

Age: 20

Height: 6'1"

Before weight: 245

How I gained it: Constant eating of fast food, overeating junk foods and candy and lack of physical exercise. Using food as a method of comfort, I felt the only way to escape my problems was to eat. Constant snacks and junk packed on the pounds faster than I could count them.

Breaking point: My breaking point was senior year of high school when I stepped on the scale and read that I was over 240 pounds. It was disappointing knowing that my father, who was in his early 50s, weighed only about five pounds more than I did. I was distraught to realize how close we were in weight.

Continue reading Anthony Ditched Junk Food - And 62 Pounds

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]]>anthony-Riojasjacki-donaldsonsuccess-storiesJacki DonaldsonMon, 10 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST"The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl" Giveaway Reminderhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/05/the-amazing-adventures-of-dietgirl-giveaway-reminder/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/05/the-amazing-adventures-of-dietgirl-giveaway-reminder/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/05/the-amazing-adventures-of-dietgirl-giveaway-reminder/#commentsFiled under: ,

Photo: amazon.com
Shauna Reid has one heck of a success story -- she transformed her body and her life by losing 176 pounds, and she's written all about it in her book "The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl."

Shauna's book will surely inspire you, whether you're trying to shed a few of your own or just looking for a little motivation to change the way you live. So, you could pick up a copy of "Dietgirl" -- or you could win one here, because right now, we're in the midst of a giveaway.

To enter to win, head back to the original giveaway post and leave us a comment about your favorite diet tip (don't leave your comment here). But don't delay -- you only have until Monday, August 10 at 5 p.m. to make it happen.

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]]>Jacki DonaldsonWed, 05 Aug 2009 12:00:00 ESTLose Weight Together - This Week on AOL Healthhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/04/lose-weight-together-this-week-on-aol-health/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/04/lose-weight-together-this-week-on-aol-health/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/04/lose-weight-together-this-week-on-aol-health/#commentsFiled under: , ,

courtney and sherrie harris before
Photo: Provided by Sherrie Harris
Weighing in at 285 pounds, Sherrie Harris (right) decided to do something about it, so she joined Weight Watchers. After she saw her mom shed 147 pounds, Courtney (left) followed suit, dropping 66 pounds and overhaulling her eating routine. A typical pre-diet day for the two consisted of fast food, fried foods and carb-heavy sides like mac and cheese and mashed potatoes -- and 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 tells AOL Health. Read more about their success story and others who got fit together on AOL Health.

Have you lost big? Share you diet success story with That's Fit here.

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]]>aol-healthdietdiet-sucessweight-lossweight-watchersAOL Health EditorsTue, 04 Aug 2009 11:00:00 ESTThe Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl - A Success Story and Book Giveawayhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/03/the-amazing-adventures-of-dietgirl-a-success-story-and-book-gi/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/03/the-amazing-adventures-of-dietgirl-a-success-story-and-book-gi/http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/08/03/the-amazing-adventures-of-dietgirl-a-success-story-and-book-gi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Be inspired by our That's Fit Success Stories. Then motivate others by submitting your own. Click here to share how you've transformed your body through diet and exercise.

Shauna Reid is an Australian writer living in Scotland. Her memoir "The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl" has just been published by Avon and tells the story of how she lost 175 pounds, traveled the world, found romance and learned to be happy in her own skin. People magazine called it, "a buoyant, funny, and immensely likable romp -- for readers of all sizes." Shauna has been blogging about her health and fitness journey since 2001 at www.dietgirl.org. Here is her success story, which includes a book giveaway. Continue reading after the break for details on how to enter.

shauna reid before
Shauna Reid: Before
Name: Shauna Reid

Age: 31

Height: 5'8''

Before weight: 351

How I gained it: I developed an fixation with my weight from an early age by tagging along to my Mum's Weight Watchers meetings -- she was a group leader! I remember being 8 years old and watching the ladies line up for the scale. I realized what you ate and what you weighed was a really big deal, and I grew up very conscious of my body and my eating -- I had a very love/hate relationship with them both. It wasn't until my late teens when I left home that I really started to gain weight. Food became my comfort during some very difficult times. My self-esteem was non-existent, and I was trapped in a cycle of terrible binges and careful dieting. I gained over 100 pounds during my degree. By 23, I'd reached 351 pounds.

Breaking point: Seeing my giant size 26 knickers on the clothesline next to my sister's tiny size 8 ones. Hers were lacy and dainty -- mine were frumpy cotton like my grandmother would wear. These were no knickers for a 23-year-old! I knew that I had to do something about weight and do it right this time.

Continue reading The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl - A Success Story and Book Giveaway

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]]>dietgirljacki-donaldsonshauna-reidsuccess-storiesthe-amazing-adventures-of-dietgirlJacki DonaldsonMon, 03 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST