"I Beat a Bad Body Image and Lost 50 Pounds"

Sara's Weight Loss Plan

Age: 37
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 122
Pounds lost: 53
Months at current weight: 27

The Workout: Sara runs three to four miles three or four days a week and weight-trains three times a week.

The Diet: Breakfast is oatmeal, cantaloupe and cheddar cheese. Lunch is a salad with lettuce, turkey and Romano cheese sprinkled with vinegar. Dinner is a hamburger patty or chicken breast with beans, broccoli and a salad.

The Turning Point: Overweight and desperate, Sara was prompted by divine inspiration to try a healthier lifestyle. "I knew there had to be more to life than being grouchy and sleepy all the time."

Stick-With-It Tip: Steer clear of the scale. "I refuse to be a slave to those numbers; I trust how I feel."

Biggest Temptation: A crusty loaf of bread. "But I tell myself that no food tastes as good as fitting into size 2 jeans feels."

What She Couldn't Wait to Wear: A fitted shirt tucked into snug jeans. "When I lost weight, I got rid of all my huge, body-concealing T-shirts."

Originally published in Fitness magazine.