"Being Thin Feels Better Than Any Pizza Binge!"

Heather's Weight Loss Plan

Age: 25
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 120 pounds
Pounds lost: 55
Months at current weight: 29

The Workout: Every day Heather walks or jogs four miles. Three or four days a week she does 100 sit-ups and works out with free weights at home.

The Diet: For breakfast, Heather has cereal with skim milk, a banana and a glass of orange juice. Lunch is a turkey or chicken sandwich on whole wheat and a spinach salad. Dinner is grilled chicken, rice and veggies.

Turning Point: She overheard a classmate saying he would ask her out if she weighed less. "I was hurt and sad, but I was also irritated; that anger really motivated me."

Stick-With-It tip: "When I eat out I always take home half in a doggy bag; the portions are way too big for one person."

Biggest Temptation: Chocolate. "I couldn't go cold turkey -- instead, I cut back gradually. I allow myself a bit of chocolate every week."

What She Couldn't Wait to Wear: A short skirt with funky boots. "When I was heavy, I didn't want my legs to show; I never wore anything short or formfitting."

Originally published in Fitness magazine.