"I Quit Yo-Yo Dieting and Lost Half My Size"

Allison's Weight-Loss Plan

The Diet: "For breakfast, I have a bowl of oatmeal made with skim milk, plus a banana or an apple. Lunch is turkey and fat-free cheese on whole wheat bread, a salad, and a 6-ounce cup of yogurt. Dinner is grilled chicken breast, a baked potato, and spinach. I snack on baby carrots, soy chips, and fat-free popcorn."

Fast-Food Strategy: "When I'm running errands, I'll go to Subway or Boston Market or grab a pre-made salad at the grocery store."

The Workout: "Seven days a week, I do some kind of cardio, whether it's 60 minutes on the treadmill or Arc Trainer or workout videos at home. I also do 30 minutes of upper- and lower-body sculpting three times a week."

On Her iPod: "I love mystery/suspense novels, especially the Stephanie Plumb series by Janet Evanovich and the Kinsey Millhone books by Sue Grafton. I listen to them on the treadmill -- it makes workout time fly."

Originally published in FITNESS magazine, August 2006.