What was the most challenging lifestyle change you had to make to follow this program successfully?
The most difficult change was planning ALL my meals and snacks. Writing shopping lists, planning meals for the week, preparing fresh produce and reading the labels of every prepackaged product I consider bringing home is a must. If we do eat out, I find the menu online before we go and plan the days meals and snacks around it.

What's your favorite workout or exercise?
I love boxing! Brian was great and worked weekly boxing sessions into our training schedule. I look forward to it every week.

What's your least favorite workout or exercise?
When I started, I hated jumping. I was so self conscious of what I looked like to others. Now I don't mind too much. Lunges and squats are also pretty awkward. I still avoid mirrors when Brian makes me do them.

What's your favorite healthy snack?
Right now I am addicted to apples. Through out this challenge I really learned to love seasonal fruits. All summer I was chomping on berries and peaches.

Any words of wisdom you can share with other Shape readers who are on their own weight loss journeys?
The most important thing I've learned is that each person has to really want to lose weight, eat right and exercise. If you don't want it and you don't enjoy it, you won't do the work. Find an exercise you are passionate about (dancing, rock climbing, martial arts, etc) and just do it. I don't think anyone is as clumsy or doofy as I am, but I still go to Zumba classes because I love it!

What's the best thing about the new you?
I know I can stay fit for the rest of my life. I have another 20 pounds to lose, but I can do it and I am so excited to see what I look like in another 6 months!

FOLLOW JENNY'S JOURNEY FROM THE BEGINNING

Month 2 Results
Current Weight: 185
Total Pounds Lost: 12

Meal Plans

About Jennifer

My name if Jennifer Steinle. I am 31 years old, married; I live on Long Island and work in Manhattan. Currently, I weigh 197 lbs. Here's my story: I first encountered a weight issue in my freshman year of college due mostly to horrible eating habits (I ate M&Ms and diet coke for breakfast everyday). I joined Weight Watchers, lost about 10 lbs. and became a lifetime member (Thanks Mom!). The day I got married I was happy with my body. I was 24 and weighed 134 lbs. After our wedding, I gained a lot of weight very quickly and topped out around 250 lbs. within 3 years. I gained over 100 lbs. in 3 years! It was like I said "I do" and magically--kablam! Giant butt and back fat to match!

Only it wasn't magic. Once we lived together my habits changed dramatically. I ate whatever my very trim hubby ate: fast food, meat loaf, tacos, and mashed potatoes without a green veggie in sight. It didn't help that we spent evenings on the couch and weekends sleeping-in. Things continued this way for years (5 to be exact). I knew that my weight was out of control. I was completely self conscience about seeing folks I hadn't seen since college or our wedding. Worse than always knowing I was the fattest girl in the room (or the line for the ice cream truck) was that I began to feel trapped in my own, very thick, skin. I felt immobilized and inflexible.

Then, in January 2008, after a weekend getaway to a spa, I knew I had to become a healthier person. I know nobody could have said anything to me to make change, no amount of guilt or shame, bad pictures or confronting relatives could have guilted or swayed me into action. I want my life to fun and healthy. I want to be able to bike ride with my hubby, get through a zumba class without taking mid dance water breaks and jump rope without the fear I might accidentally crack cement or worse, my knees.

I lost the first 44 lbs. by eating more fruits, fiber and veggies. I cut out weekly fast food dinners, started journaling my meals and snacks and working out at the gym 3-5 days a week. So, here I am in fat girl limbo: thinner, but still heavy; healthier, but still not physically able to do everything I want to do. I know that losing it slowly is the way to go, but I'm ready to ready get in gear and work harder. But, I have so much more to learn. The next 6 months with a nutritionist and a personal trainer will help me go beyond my basic knowledge of healthy eating and physical fitness. They rest is up to me.

If you read my story and can relate, please post and let me know.