12 Get-Healthy Success Stories

I Lost 70 Pounds

Nicole Churco, office manager, Schuylerville, New York

In high school and college Nicole played soccer and ate high-calorie meals to stay fueled. She burned off all that pasta and pizza on the soccer field, but when she hung up her cleats, she didn't change her diet. Five years later Nicole weighed 210 pounds.

Turning Point
Last February, Nicole made plans to visit her hometown. The realization that she would have to face people who knew her 70 pounds lighter was a wake-up call. "It struck me how my weight was hampering my life. I wasn't excited to reconnect with old friends, because I was unhappy with my body," Nicole says. She took a Day One picture of herself, posted it at her desk at work, where she often snacked, and set a goal to reach 150 pounds.

Smart Steps
Nicole first vowed to tackle her oversize portions -- no small feat, because her mom served up heaping helpings. "I had to teach myself what three ounces of chicken looks like," Nicole says, so she started using a food scale. She also cut back on processed and fast foods, red meat, and cheese.

Although she was no longer involved in organized sports, Nicole had stayed active by Rollerblading, hiking, and walking her dog. "I didn't change my fitness routine much; my weight loss is a testament to the impact of a nutritious diet," she says. But Nicole noticed that the more pounds she dropped, the easier and more fun workouts were.