Showing it Off

"Each week I was getting leaner and fitter, and I saw more definition in my arms and legs."

Feeling 100 Percent Better

"Exercise became a part of my life. It took less than an hour to do, but gave me so much."

Full of Energy

"I had heard weight training was important, but I didn't believe it until I tried it. It defined my muscles and jolted my metabolism."

Road to Fitness

"At 140 pounds, not 112 as in college, I'm the happiest I've ever been. Now I can enjoy life, instead of obsessing over every fat gram and calorie."

Positive Outlook

"After losing weight, I realized that there is nothing I can't accomplish, as long as I have a positive outlook."

Strong, Lean & Healthy

"Being healthy reduces my risk of contracting breast cancer, a major concern since my mother died of the disease."

Healthy Mindset

"I lost 35 pounsd in eight months, yet my drinking and smoking were hindering my progress. I didn't feel it."

Inner Reflection

"Over time, I learned that there is more to a person than what they look like. It's what's on the inside that counts."

Perseverance Pays Off

"Exercise is great, not only because it helps you lose weight, it also makes you healthy, strong and full of energy."

Winning Habits

"My weight loss was long and slow, but I knew if I wanted permanent results, they wouldn't happen overnight."

A Healthy Balance

"I stopped judging myself based on my eating habits. Instead, I expressed my feelings in a journal and found that I'd been an emotional eater."

Winning Reflection

"I had landed my dream job, but I hated my reflection in the mirror. I realized I had to change my priorities."

Daily Dedication

"The only way to lose weight and keep it off is to make exercise a part of each day. I'll never love it, but I do love what it's done for my body."

Staying Motivated

"At first my body was sore from the activity, but it felt great to do something."

Pleasant Surprise

"When I learned that building muscle boosted my metabolism and helped me lose weight, I was hooked."

Just Rewards

"Every time I lost 5 or 10 pounds, I treated myself to a new workout video or exercise outfit."

A Perfect Fit

"I lost 30 pounds in five months and had to get my wedding dress altered from a size 14 to an 8."

Tension Tamer

"Looking for stress relief, I joined a gym and started working out four times a week."

Healthy Balance

"My excessive exercise and restrictive eating patterns were wrecking havoc on my body."

Complete Confidence

"With each race I've completed, I've improved my time and body confidence. I feel like an athlete again."

Happy & Secure

"Running gives me such a rush; I never thought I could run two miles, let alone complete a 5k!"

Wake-up Call

"I don't measure fitness by what the scale says. Instead, I base it on what my body can do."

No Quick Fixes

"Quick fixes don't work. Just making small changes in eating habits and exercise is enough for lasting results."

Happy Inside & Out

"At 170 pounds, I may be a 'big girl,' but I'm also healthy, strong and athletic. Most importantly, I'm happy with who I am."

Fueling Up

"Once I overcame my bulimia I focused on being strong and healthy instead of on being thin."

Working Out the Stress

"I haven't had a panic attack in years, and I know that's because I exercise regularly."

Following Doctor's Orders

"My therapist suggested I join a gym and start weight training since it would boost my self-esteem. I was skeptical at first, but amazingly, she was right."

Saying No to High-Fat Foods

"Since I knew exercise itself wasn't going to produce lasting results, I also made it a priority to change my eating habits."

Exercise has its perks

"Instead of feeling tired and exhausted, surprisingly, I felt reinvigorated and energized after my workouts."

No More Excuses

"I packed my gym bag each night and kept it in my car so I could go straight to the gym after school."

The Right Rx

"My son's honest question forced me to reevaluate my life, and I decided to get healthy, once and for all."

A Diet That Works

"I have maintained my weight without following a strict eating plan."

A Dream Come True

"I didn't realize I was making progress until I had to buy new, smaller-sized clothes."

Facing the Truth

"I wanted to be sane and healthy more than I wanted to be skinny."

A Year Older, A Year Wiser

"On my 26th birthday, I realized that I was neither healthy nor happy, the two things everyone should be."

A Step in the Right Direction

"Keeping a journal helped me see that mindless snacking added up to unnecessary calories."

Finding the Right Balance

"Starving myself on 1,000 calories a day and overexercising were just as bad as overeating and not exercising."

Exercising Change

"When I ate healthfully, I felt better both physically and mentally."

Cause and effect

"When I ate better, I felt better, which helped me stay on track with my new habits."

Happily Healthy

"Although I'm not in shape like I was before my pregnancy, I'm fit and happy."

A 'Diet' That Works

"I have maintained my weight without following a strict eating plan."

Ultimate Motivation

"A two-year engagement gave me ample time to get serious about losing the last 30 pounds."

Little Changes, Big Results

"Eating six small meals a day kept me energized and prevented overeating."

Making It Happen

"I was tired of fighting with my weight. I decided to get fit, once and for all."

Class Action

"Each aerobics class was fun, challenging and brought me a step closer to my weight-loss goals."

Getting It Just Right

"I've been through both sides of the weight spectrum, and I've learned the importance of doing everything in moderation."

Weight Loss Without Gimmicks

"I didn't have to deprive myself of any food or spend money on fad diets; I just needed to eat properly and exercise."

The Fitness Formula

Tina Beauvais has maintained her 30-pound weight loss -- even after two pregnancies.

A Brand-New View

"I'm shocked when I see photos of myself when I was 55 pounds heavier. I don't even recognize the old me."

A High-Energy Mom

"I used to start the day in a sluggish fog. Now that I'm 45 pounds lighter, I jump out of bed with endless energy."

The Perfect Fit

"After two months, I realized I was losing weight when my "fat jeans" were loose on me. I was finally on the right track."

A New Attitude

"Once I made my health my No. 1 priority, I lost weight and reached my fitness goals."

A Competitive Spirit

"After college, I stopped exercising and gained 20 pounds. Now, with the right balance of healthy eating and regular workouts, I'm fit."

Winning the Battle

"Eating a healthful small meal every two to three hours keeps my metabolism going, and I'm never hungry."

A 'Diet' That Works

"I have maintained my weight without following a strict eating plan."

Free to Move

"After a year, I felt like my old self. Working out regularly was the key to helping me feel good again"

Class Action

"Each aerobics class was fun, challenging and brought me a step closer to my weight-loss goals."

Watch for Curves

"Now that I'm at a muscular 130 pounds, I love the way my body looks and feels."

A Whole New Me

"People who had known me for years could hardly recognize me, and guys were finally asking me out on dates."

I Achieved My Dreams!

This reader learned that motivation can come from the most unlikely of places—and dropped 20 pounds in the process.

I Got Healthy—for Life

This mom lost 45 pounds after she found the best weight-loss "trick" of all.

My New Lease on Life

Tired of feeling sluggish and bloated, this student changed her lifestyle, dropping 28 pounds in the process.

I Became A Triathlete!

This reader discovered that racing was a more powerful live-healthy motivator than the scale-and dropped 40 pounds in the process.

Staying Healthy On The Road

Though this reader spends about a third of her time traveling, she's learned you can bring good habits along for the ride.

Eat More, Weigh Less

This reader ditched the gimmicks, upped her protein intake, and lost 40 pounds in the process.

My Health Wake-Up Call

This reader changed her entire family's bad habits--and lost 50 pounds in the process.

I Walked My Way Slim

Allison's Challenge
Allison grew up with an aerobics instructor for a mother and sports-star brothers. But pressure to be active led her to choose the couch-potato path -- why she put on weight. Her habits stuck, and when she got married at 24, she we

Emotional Rescue

Carin's Challenge High school teacher Carin Barrett struggled with her weight all her life, but never found the time or motivation to slim down. "I wasn't happy with my body, but I didn't think that I overate or that exercising made a difference," she say

Unstoppable Spirit

Lisette Anders was in the middle of her third pregnancy when her relationship fell apart, leaving her to raise her children alone. "I overate to deal with all the stress," Lisette says. "After delivering my son, I weighed 240 pounds."

Finding My Healthy Weight

No gimmicks for this reader, who discovered that small changes really do add up.

I'm Fitter Than Ever!