They Lost Over 100 Pounds! How?

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Five women who have lost more than 100 pounds shared their stories - and advice - with PEOPLE. Their stories are inspiring and they celebrated their triumph with a swimsuit photo shoot exclusively for the magazine. Brianna Bernard, who gained about 70 pounds with her pregnancy, shared her secrets to getting her figure back. "When I was pregnant, I literally ate for two and assumed that I would lose weight easily after the baby was born, so I enjoyed it. I ate a lot of carbohydrates and did not focus on eating healthy, "he confesses. Bernard adds that she used to eat pasta and fast food before and was so busy taking care of her son at home that she forgot about herself. "I didn't take the time to take care of myself," he admits.

Bernard hired a personal trainer to exercise, made sure to drink about 120 ounces of water a day, and started eating healthy (low-fat protein and vegetables). "I ate every two hours," he says, making sure they were small portions to speed up his metabolism. Now Bernard - who went from 245 pounds to 138 - helps other women as a personal trainer.

Lauren Council also shared her story. She traded in her addiction to cookies and chips for balanced nutrition. Last year, after having digestive problems, she started going to the gym and now goes six days a week. After losing her mother, who died of breast cancer, she decided to take care of her health. "She has been a great inspiration," admits Council, who dropped from 270 pounds to 164. "I am a happier person. This is a lifestyle that I will continue.”

Rachel Saintfort - she dropped from 291 to 170 pounds - and set out to change her life when her legs swelled from fluid retention due to her high salt intake. Being a good example for her daughter was a great motivation. She started walking, working out in the gym on the treadmill and climbing stairs, as well as taking care of her nutrition. "The most important thing is to believe in yourself and keep going," she says.

Nissa Graun suffered from gestational diabetes in her son's pregnancy. I felt very uncomfortable. I was still wearing maternity clothes six months after giving birth,”recalls Graun, who dropped from 245 to 140 pounds. How? She stopped eating processed, high-fat foods, and incorporated the weights into her exercise routine at the gym.

Finally, Merial Levy managed to lose more than 100 pounds at age 50, proving that it is never too late. "I ate when I was angry, when I was sad, when I was happy," admits Levy, who used food to calm her emotions. "I was letting food control me." The third-grade teacher admits that she was so overweight that her students had to wheel her around the room. Levy used the Weightwatchers meal program and started getting up early to go to the gym four or five days a week. “I could have died and left my children for not taking care of me. That's the worst feeling in the world, "said Levy, who dropped from 343 pounds to 181. What a motivation!