Four women share how they lost weight, how they keep it off

Together, these four women lost almost 300 pounds after reaching a turning point. Because finding out what worked for others can be the motivation someone needs to find her own turning point, today we share their stories.

Jennifer Schrader, 35

Lost: 110 pounds. It took about a year, beginning in January 2007.

What made her do it: A New Year’s resolution. “This time I carried through on it.” She was tired of leg pain that she knew was related to excess weight and tired of trying to find size 22 clothes.

How she did it: She dieted for a couple of weeks on her own, then joined Weight Watchers after deciding she needed the support of a group. It allowed her to make her own food choices. That was important – when someone says she can’t have something, she immediately wants it. She also exercised. At first, it was once or twice a week with a group of fellow school employees in Goddard, where she’s an elementary school counselor. As she started feeling better, she added more time, along with classes, at the YMCA. Schrader still exercises three to five times a week and especially enjoys group classes at the Y.

What kept her going: Her dad’s advice: “Stick to the diet for three weeks. No cheating. And at the end of three weeks, decide how you feel.” She felt good enough to keep going. She also depended on the support of her husband and the knowledge of others. “I left it up to the experts to tell me what to do.”

What she does now: Exercises, eats low-fat foods prepared healthfully, takes to heart the comments she hears from others about her weight, is conscious of how much better she feels and enjoys shopping for size 8 clothes.

Jeannine Cobb, 60

Lost: 99.4 pounds over the course of a year. She has maintained the loss for two months.

What made her do it: As Cobb prepared to retire from her obstetrics-gynecology practice, physician-friends told her she needed to lose weight. But the comment that really hit home came from a 4-year-old grandchild: “Grandma, you could die, and I need you.”

How she did it: Through Medi-Weightloss Clinics, a program based on the American Diabetes Association’s eating plan. It stresses lean protein, vegetables and fruits. The program also includes nutrition supplements and exercise. Cobb started her weight loss journey at the Medi-Weightloss Clinic in Tampa. She liked the program so much that she opened one in Andover not long after. The phone number is 316-733-8505. “In a way it was kind of selfish” to open the clinic, she says. Losing weight, while helping patients lose, meant “the pressure was on.”

What kept her going: The new business, the personal success and the support of other patients and her nurses, who also used the program. Plus, she felt better.

What she does now: She continues to maintain her healthy-eating habits and still exercises at least 90 to 120 minutes a week. “It’s not so much what you do” for exercise, she says. “It is the consistency.” When she goes out to eat, she requests steamed or raw broccoli and salsa instead of chips or bread; restaurants are happy to accommodate her, she says.

Brandi Nuss, 31

Lost: 40 pounds over about two years; she has maintained that loss for about three 1/2 years.

What made her do it: She was still calling excess weight from her first pregnancy “baby weight,” even after her second child’s birth. “You can only do that for so long, and then it’s not a good excuse anymore,” says Nuss.

How she did it: Her mother suggested that she join Weight Watchers. She was reluctant but gave it a try and started losing weight. She also started walking and occasionally did weights work at a gym.

What kept her going: A plan that allowed her to “bank” calories for the weekend and to eat more by exercising more. She also discovered that she needed the discipline of a plan: “I yo-yoed a bunch in the beginning. I thought I had it under control, and I didn’t.” She learned that a small portion of something was just as satisfying as a bigger one. For example, she likes mini ice cream treats when she wants something sweet.

What she does now: She gets up at 5:30 or 6 a.m. and walks for 30 minutes five days a week. “It helps get me started for the day.” She also pays attention to how her clothes fit. If they’re tight, she cuts back on food and increases exercise. “I try not to focus too much on the scales.” She continues to eat more healthfully and often takes a Lean Cuisine or Smart Ones meal with her to work, in Wichita.

Debbie Helten, 47

Lost: 40 pounds over seven months. She has maintained the loss since April.

What made her do it: Her employer, Eagle Enterprises, offered to pay the joining fee and $5 of the weekly fee for any employee who wanted to join Weight Watchers. About 20 signed up. Helten was the first to reach her goal weight. Employees have lost more than 500 pounds combined; 65 pounds was the biggest weight loss.

How she did it: First, she was ready to lose weight. “You hate to say it’s a mind game, but so much of it is,” says Helten. She started paying attention to portion sizes and read labels. “I really didn’t change the things I ate, I just changed how much I ate of them.” Her job is physical, so she gets lots of exercise each day.

What kept her going: Knowing how she wanted to look for her daughter’s wedding, a few days ago. The support of fellow employees was motivating, and she learned to change her eating habits. “I feel like I’m eating all the time, but I’m eating the right things,” she says.

What she does now: She continues to look for high-fiber foods, which keep her feeling full longer, and makes them and vegetables the focus of most meals. She weighs in every other week, and she and fellow employees still compare notes and support each other. “I haven’t weighed 112 in forever,” she says. “I don’t want to see any pounds come back on.” She also logs what she eats. “I would rather skip that candy bar than write it down in my journal!”