32 Weight-Loss Secrets from Real Women Who Completely Transformed Their Bodies

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Top Tip: In addition to exercising and meal prepping together, these best friends are committed to being partners in health. "We call each other every Friday to discuss our weekend plans and how we're going to stay on track," Susie says. "We text each other inspirational quotes once a week, like 'Stay patient and trust your journey.'"

Read more about Laura and Susie's weight loss plan.

Top Tip: Move more to stress less. "I've learned to exercise instead of eating when I'm stressed," Sarah says. "I've started walking two to three miles outside two to three times a week. The fresh air instantly puts me in a good mood, and I think of it as time to unplug. Now I put exercise on my to-do list just like any task—it's about committing to myself. My mom bought a Fitbit and aims for 10,000 steps per day."

Read more about Jane and Sarah's weight loss plan.

Top Tip: "We joined Life Time Fitness and enrolled in the gym's 60-Day Challenge, a competition that encouraged us to commit to healthy changes and slim down in 60 days," Rosalyn says. "We each lost about 10 pounds in the first challenge, so we signed up for another. We felt competitive against others, but always thought of ourselves as a team." 

Read more about Rosalyn and Alpharetta's weight loss plan.

I ate five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day, cut out fried foods, and switched from eating refined carbohydrates like white bread to complex carbs like whole-wheat bread. I promised myself that after one year of living healthfully, I'd treat myself to fast-food fries (an old favorite), but I couldn't finish them. Now my cholesterol is in a healthy range, and I still walk 30 to 60 minutes four or five days a week.

Top tip: Use a calendar. Every time I exercise, I write down my accomplishment. Once I see a streak visually on paper, I don't want to break it.

Read more about Kathryn's weight-loss plan.

I wasn't athletic at all, but I knew I was able to walk, so I thought I'd try that for two weeks to see if I liked it. I went walking for three miles around my office building with friends on my lunch break and enjoyed it, so I kept at it. My legs got stronger and over time, I could keep up with the group. All of my blood work is now normal, and I have more energy for my 12-year-old daughter. The personality that I had inside has finally come out. I used to feel invisible, but now, when I put on my suit and heels, I think, I can command this room.

Top Tip: Focus on eating a healthy breakfast first. Instead of having a bagel or sugary cereal, I switched to oatmeal with lowfat milk and cinnamon and bananas, or two eggs and two egg whites with veggies. Gradually, I started feeling better and made other changes, like replacing two to three cans of soda a day with water. 

Read more about Robin's weight-loss plan.

Walking felt like the easiest change to make, so I started going out near my home for just 10 minutes a day on a local trail along a river. Being in nature was key. Gradually, I increased from 10 minutes to 2 hours a day and added hilly hikes on the weekends. While I strolled, I listened to podcasts and soaked up the scenery. My cholesterol and blood pressure are now in healthy ranges—without medication. It's wild how much I've changed, not just physically but emotionally too. I remember trying to hike when I was heavy—my knees hurt and I could barely breathe. I thought, I'll just look at nature; I don't have to walk in it. I can't believe the limited mindset I had. What was I thinking? I feel so much more confident and capable now.

Top Tip: Tone down your portion sizes. I realized that it was possible to feel full when eating less. I replaced carbohydrates with lean protein and vegetables, and created healthier recipes.

Read more about Natalie's weight-loss plan.

My Weight-Loss Secret: "I was too embarrassed to go to the gym, so I committed to walking three times a day for 10 minutes before breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes I'd just walk in place in front of the TV. After a year, I'd lost about 40 pounds through a combo of diet and exercise. Then I got pregnant with my son. I kept walking, and eight months after he was born, I'd lost 63 more pounds. I've kept off the weight for nine years, and today, I still walk about two miles, three days a week."

What else helped: "If my plate looks empty, it's hard for me to feel full. Now I always make sure to cover it with vegetables so it's piled high with nutritious food."

"In 2012 I went to the doctor because I was having bad headaches. Turned out, my blood pressure was 160 over 100, which is dangerously high. I started taking medication and promised myself that I'd stop turning to food every time I was sad, bored or upset. I knew I should start exercising, too, but I needed something that was realistic."

My Weight-Loss Secret: "I committed to walking two laps around a beautiful nearby park every night for roughly one month. Eventually I felt comfortable enough to go to the gym, where I started using the elliptical machine as well. I lost 75 pounds over the course of a year and a half. Now I strength-train three days a week and do five-mile walk-run workouts one or two days a week. I'll pick a post, jog to it, then walk to the next landmark."

What else helped: "Pasta is my trigger food, so I use a Spiralizer to make zucchini noodles, which I toss with olive oil, shrimp and red pepper flakes."

"I weighed 200 pounds when I had to get a hysterectomy in 2011 to undo damage caused by an infection. Afterward, I was lethargic and gained 53 pounds. I was put on two different medications for high blood pressure and another one for acid reflux, plus I had high cholesterol and was prediabetic. I was also having heart palpitations, so I went to a cardiologist and was diagnosed with sleep apnea and put on an oxygen tank at night. My family doctor told me that my sleep apnea would probably go away if I lost weight."

My Weight-Loss Secret: "I had a treadmill in my garage that I'd been ignoring for years. I started walking on it for 30 minutes five days a week. Four months later, I'd dropped 20 pounds and added 1-minute jogging intervals. When my weight loss stalled, I started lifting weights three days a week as well. About two years later, I'd lost 90 more pounds. Now, I warm up with 5 minutes of walking and end with another 15 to 20 minutes."

What else helped: "On Saturdays I treat myself to dessert. This weekly treat day helps me feel satiated without going overboard."

"A doctor's visit in February 2014 was my wakeup call. I was 242 pounds, prediabetic, and my blood pressure was sky-high. I knew it was serious, and I had to focus on getting healthy. The problem: I'm a working mom of four kids ranging in age from 14 to 22, so I have limited time."

My Weight-Loss Secret: "I realized my daughter's middle school was one mile away. So, I started walking her there instead of driving. At the beginning, I wasn't able to keep up. I'd wave Brenda on and go back home. Each day, I went a little farther and was eventually able to make the whole trip. After four months, I was down 40 pounds and could walk without huffing and puffing. Today, my health measures are in normal ranges and I've shaken the 'victim' mentality. In other words, I felt like life was running me instead of me running my life. I now believe that if I can work hard enough to change my health, then I can apply that discipline to other areas. It's been going well—I devote time each day to my novel and other writing aspirations!"

What else helped: "I read a book called The New Lean for Life, which taught me how to replace 'bad' carbs (like white rice) with 'good' ones (like quinoa)."

"When I was really heavy, I felt like people were staring at me, so I didn't go into stores or restaurants by myself. I'd walk with my head down and avoid eye contact. My mom had a heart attack at age 41, when I was 19, and that was never far from my mind. On my 39th birthday in 2012, I hit 250 pounds and thought, I'm going to die if I don't do something. So I set a goal to get under 200 pounds by age 40."

My Weight-Loss Secret: Add one minute a day to your walk

"I joined the Anytime Fitness gym near my house, but at first I could barely walk on the treadmill for 10 minutes. I didn't want to overdo it and get frustrated, so I decided to add just 1 minute of walking each day. After 20 days, I was up to 30 minutes of walking and the pounds were consistently coming off. If I couldn't make it to the gym, I'd stroll around town with my then-teenage daughters, Kayla and Kendra. Now, I feel like I am turning heads—in a good way. I hold my head up high with my shoulders back, I smile and make eye contact. I try to radiate positivity."

What else helped: "I ate six small meals a day and replaced soda with water."

"Facebook spurred my transformation four years ago. I was 240 pounds and saw a photo of myself at a friend's wedding. My arms looked enormous. I was so embarrassed that I untagged myself and set my mind to making changes."

My Weight-Loss Secret: Grab a buddy and get outside

"I started scheduling walking dates with my girlfriends because I thought it'd be a great way to catch up and squeeze in a workout at the same time—and they would hold me accountable. We hiked at state and national parks near my home to take advantage of the beautiful scenery. My friends and I also started a group text to check in with one another

about once a week. I realized that the more I walked, the more I lost. (I also started doing Bikram yoga, which helped me improve my breathing and flexibility.) Before, I could

barely make it around the block. Now, I outpace people half my age—and rarely untag Facebook photos."

What else helped: "I signed up for Jenny Craig. The packaged meals helped me learn what a smart portion should look like."

"Six years ago, after visiting relatives in Utah, I looked at my mother in a family photo we'd taken. She was obese and in a wheelchair, and it hit me that I could be in that situation in 30 years. I decided that I needed to take control of my weight now, before it was too late."

My Weight-Loss Secret: Celebrate Small Victories

"I was 251 pounds at the time, so walking laps around my neighborhood was all I could muster at first. I knew I had a lot to lose, but I was starting at square one. To stay motivated, I celebrated each 10-pound loss with a new clothing item. As I slimmed down, I noticed shopping was fun again. At one point, I tried on a pair of size 16 jeans and I wasn't sure if they would fit. (I started out a size 22.) When I was able to zip and button them, I stared at the mirror with my mouth open—I couldn't believe it! I was so excited that I ran out of

the dressing room and hugged my daughter. Today, I still power-walk for at least 30 minutes at a time, usually on a treadmill at home four to five times a week. When I think about what I've accomplished, I get emotional. I feel better than I ever did in my 20s."

What else helped: "I joined Weight Watchers. Following the program's points system helped me swap out processed foods for healthier options, like salads."

"I started working with a weight-loss coach at Healthy Fit for Women in Woburn, MA. The key was slowly making changes in the way I ate, which eventually led to permanent habits. I used to think I was eating 'healthy' foods, but my portions were way too large, not to mention packed with sugar. I started eating breakfast, then tried to eat five small meals a day, every three hours, instead of larger ones later in the day."

I now pay more attention to food labels and allow myself the occasional indulgence to keep cravings at bay.

Top Tip: Create accountability for yourself—try keeping a journal to keep track of the food and calories you are eating each day.

I tipped the scale as a 238-pound diabetic in 2009, thanks to bouts of emotional eating. My doctor warned me that if I didn't lose weight, I'd need to take insulin injections, so I joined a nearby gym. I dropped the first 30 pounds by walking on the treadmill, but when my weight started to plateau, I knew I needed to up the intensity. I signed up for Zumba, Spinning and weight-training group classes and was immediately hooked. The sessions felt more like a social get-together than exercise. Best of all, the added activity helped me reach my goal weight in 2012.