"Losing 100 Pounds Changed My Life"
Erica's Weight Loss Plan
Age: 21
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 160 pounds
Pounds lost: 107
Months at current weight:24
The Workout: Erica runs or walks on the treadmill four times a week for 25 to 45 minutes. On other days, she swims or plays golf or volleyball.
The Diet: For breakfast, she has oatmeal or bran cereal with 1 percent milk and fruit. Lunch is typically low-fat refried beans with a tortilla and salad. For dinner she has a chicken breast or tuna with a large serving of vegetables. During the day, Erica snacks on a Balance Bar, fruit, yogurt or cottage cheese.
Stick-With-It Tip: Don't cut an excessive number of calories from your diet or you'll sabotage your success. "Eat enough so you don't go hungry and to keep your metabolism revved," says Erica.
Biggest Temptation:Cheesecake-flavored frozen yogurt. "It's not high in fat, but I could eat it three times a day if I didn't limit myself."
Best Compliment Since Losing Weight: The shock on old friends' faces when she runs into them. "People simply don't believe that I'm the same woman who once weighed over 250 pounds," she says triumphantly.
What She Couldn't Wait to Wear: Short skirts. "I love my legs, and being able to wear something that shows them off motivates me to exercise and eat right."
Originally published in Fitness magazine.
