Losing weight is a deeply personal journey, with no one-size-fits-all solution. It can be a challenging endeavor, and finding inspiration can make all the difference. These before-and-after weight loss stories showcase the diverse paths people have taken to achieve their goals, overcome obstacles, and transform their lives.
Family Support: A United Front Against Obesity
The story of Gracie and her parents, Brad and Mandy, exemplifies the power of family support in achieving weight loss goals. Together, they lost a combined 80 lbs. Gracie, motivated by her doctor's suggestion and a desire to fit into her musical theater costume, embarked on a weight loss journey with her parents. Brad and Mandy joined to support Gracie, but soon after began seeing results themselves.
The family made changes after watching educational videos. They realized they were eating too much, even when eating the right foods. At suppertime they’ll say to each other, ‘That looks larger than the size of your fist!’ They became empowered with knowledge. Gracie tracked her food intake, revealing that she was using up all of her reds just on lunch. They became more aware of their food choices and started making substitutions, for example, olive oil spray instead of regular olive oil. Now Gracie and her mom invest time each night to prepare healthy meals for the next day. Also, they began spending less time on the couch and more time outside.
Having tried many diets in the past, Brad and Mandy liked that Kurbo felt sustainable. They didn’t have to eliminate an entire food group. They didn’t say ‘no carbs’ or ‘no fats’. They can eat everything, but they are just more aware of how to be more balanced. Six months later, Gracie dropped 12 BMI points and feels healthier. Mandy and Brad have both lost 24 and 35 lbs respectively. They have been overweight their whole lives and have yo-yoed through a lot of different diets together, but this feels different. Brad even has his diabetes under control and is off one of his medications.
The key to their success was doing it as a family. Before they would do a diet that I liked and then a diet Brad liked. Now they are all on the same team, which works much better. They keep each other accountable, but also fight less about food.
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Small Changes, Big Results: The Power of Incremental Progress
Becky Cabral's story highlights the effectiveness of making "one small change at a time." She lost 100 pounds. She loved junk food, watching TV, and being as lazy as possible, so as appealing as the extreme diets were, they never stuck. For her, the key to success was one small change at a time.
She started by going from soda to lemonade, then to light lemonade, flavored water, fruit-infused water, and finally plain water. She transitioned from no vegetables to hiding vegetables to a few microwaved frozen vegetables, then learning to cook fresh vegetables, and now she packs her meals full of vegetables. Every diet she tried or exercise program she joined, she learned something from it that she carried on with her to create a healthy lifestyle she genuinely loves living.
From Gastric Bypass to Gym: Turning Point
Dara Sarshuri's journey demonstrates the impact of a turning point. He lost 180 pounds in just 10 months through diet and exercise. 35-year-old Dara Sarshuri weighed 390 pounds in February 2018 and said he was shocked by the number. He was just mad at himself. It really just hit him and he thought, ‘You got to do something. You are almost 400 pounds.’
At first, he decided on gastric bypass surgery and had to lose some weight ahead of the procedure. In his first two months following an eating plan, he lost 55 pounds. He lost 45 more by June, a total of 100 pounds. It was at that point he decided not to go forward with the surgery. He had also started exercising, first just by walking. He eventually joined a gym and goes five days a week, still walking on the weekends. He is stronger than he ever thought he was. He never had any confidence and now he sees how far he has come. He can run. He can do push-ups. He takes these small victories.
Breaking the Cycle: A Daughter's Inspiration
Rachel Saintfort's story showcases the power of a parent's love and a desire to set a positive example. She lost 121 pounds by cutting fast food and soda from her life.
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After the birth of her daughter in 2007, things changed for Saintfort. Weighing 291 pounds, her highest, she decided to try dieting. But it wasn’t until her daughter turned 10 and one of her classmates called Saintfort “fat” that she made lasting changes. She looked so sad, and she’s trying to act like it wasn’t a big deal. At that moment it hit me that she’s suffering, and she’s being picked on or laughed at because of my laziness or my unhealthy choices. She cut out fast food and soda and started doing daily three-mile walks around the lake in her town.
Finding Joy in Movement: No Gym Required
Jen Wagner's experience demonstrates that weight loss doesn't necessarily require a gym membership. She has lost 88 pounds since February without even going to the gym. She started with her diet, first on keto, then to low-carb. Now she tracks her calories using MyFitnessPal and does intermittent fasting. She also exercises by playing tennis, swimming, walking with hand weights, jumping on trampolines with her daughter and even doing yard work. She never did something that made her miserable and not want to do it again. She hasn’t stepped foot inside of a gym even one time on this journey.
Her ultimate goal is to lose the 100 pounds she gained after getting married. The thing I hear the most from people is that I look like a new person. I agree, since I often don’t recognize myself when I pass a mirror or a window, but more important than that, I FEEL like a new person! I feel like the person I had longed to be all those years I was overweight.
Groupon to Greatness: Embracing Fitness Classes
Kayla Mills' story illustrates how accessible fitness classes can be a gateway to a healthier lifestyle. She lost 70 pounds after taking exercise classes through Groupon.
One morning she woke up, looked in the mirror, and cried for a while and then told herself to pull it together. When she first started to lose weight, she bought a month of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) boot camp classes on Groupon. She saw a lot of progress after just her first month and continued for a few more before she started working out on her own. Eventually, 21 months later, she lost almost 70 pounds. Since then, she has gained about 10 to 15 pounds, but she tries not to focus on the scale… Weighing a certain amount can take away the joy and stress relief that working out has brought to my life.
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From Stay-at-Home Mom to Powerlifter: Finding Strength Within
Brianna Bernard's transformation is a testament to rediscovering oneself through fitness. She lost 107 pounds and became a powerlifter.
Brianna Bernard gained 70 pounds when she was pregnant with her first child and weighed 245 pounds after she gave birth. Though she thought she could lose that weight quickly, she held on to the weight even a year after her child was born. She stopped feeling like herself. She was so busy being a stay at home mom, that her whole life was about her son and she didn’t take the time for self-care. Though she had tried plenty of weight loss methods, she was inspired to go to a gym that had helped another woman lose weight. She started training there two or three times a week doing weightlifting, plyometrics, and boxing and also changed her diet.
One year later, she had lost 107 pounds and started doing powerlifting competitions. She feels like a completely different person, and she is in so many ways. Not just physically - that’s obvious - but the way she feels in her mind. It’s hard to even look back. It feels like a lifetime ago. Now she feels like there’s nothing she can’t do. If she can lose 100 pounds, she can do anything.
Veganism as a Path to Healing: Overcoming Emotional Eating
Joey Morganelli's story highlights the role of diet in addressing emotional eating and improving overall health. He has lost 150 pounds by going vegan.
Both of Joey Morganelli’s parents died when he was a teenager, his mother from cancer when he was 13, and his father from a heart attack when he was 16. He began to cope with food but didn’t realize he was developing an addiction to food. By the time he was 18, he weighed about 312 pounds, and that number eventually rose to 400. After encouragement from a professor during his freshman year, Morganelli decided to try to lose weight. At first, he lost some weight by counting calories but his weight fluctuated for several months because he sometimes binged.
One day he had a panic attack but thought it was a heart attack. He decided then that it was time to completely change his diet. He decided to go vegan.
The Mayo Clinic Diet: A Lifestyle Transformation
The Mayo Clinic Diet success stories emphasize the importance of a sustainable, science-backed approach to weight loss. Emily claims that the Mayo Clinic Diet has changed her life. “I’ve changed so much since starting the plan-and I’m not talking about just losing weight. The Mayo Clinic Diet teaches you how to eat and live a healthy lifestyle. Even my son is eating all the meals. Whoever thought you could get a kid to eat his vegetables - and love them?!” Rich wasn’t looking for a diet-he wanted a lifestyle shift. He lost 56 pounds, and his wife Jill lost 63 pounds with the Mayo Clinic Diet. Together, they’ve embraced an active, healthy life, and they held each other accountable during the process. "We were each other’s support system," he said. For Victoria, weight loss was just the beginning. She lost 58 pounds, got her lab results to a normal range and no longer suffers persistent knee and back pain. Camille’s story is about self-love as much as it is about healthy diet results.
What do these weight-loss program success stories have in common? First, it’s the blend of discipline and flexibility. Second, progress motivates. Seeing the numbers change on the scale and feeling healthier fuels ongoing commitment. Third, support is key. The Mayo Clinic Diet offers tools like meal planners, trackers, and community forums that make it easier to stay on track. Finally, transformation is holistic. These stories aren’t just about weight; they’re about mental clarity, confidence, and overall well-being. The Mayo Clinic Diet is more than just a program-it’s a lifestyle shift supported by science. Developed by medical experts, it prioritizes safe, steady weight loss that can be sustained over time. The program offers customizable meal plans designed for flexibility, whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a family. Plus, the Mayo Clinic Diet encourages whole-body wellness.
Portion Control and Smart Swaps: Simple Strategies for Success
Clark Valery's story demonstrates the effectiveness of simple strategies like portion control and cutting down on fast food. Clark Valery, an assistant manager at a pharmacy chain in New York, lost 140 pounds by cutting down on fast food and cutting portion sizes. Before he lost weight, a typical meal could be two Big Macs, 20 chicken nuggets, two large fries, and a soda from McDonald's, or eight tacos from a Mexican restaurant.
Maria Kirkeland's journey highlights the impact of making smart food swaps and counting calories. Maria Kirkeland, a teacher from Norway, lost 159 pounds in two years by counting calories and making some small changes to her diet. For example, she replaced the salami and cheese on her bread with cottage cheese and low-sugar jam and started making her own salads with less dressing than those in her work canteen. For dinner, Kirkeland started eating leaner cuts of meat and opting for boiled or baked potatoes over fries. "They're not very calorically dense, they're very filling, they're very satiating, and they're so nutrient-rich. I love potatoes.
No Cooking Required: Adapting to a Busy Lifestyle
Leah Mancuso's story proves that you don't need to be a chef to lose weight. Leah Mancuso, a photographer in Scottsdale, Arizona, hates cooking but still made changes to her diet to help her lose 200 pounds.
Ditching Fad Diets: Educating Yourself About Nutrition
Dr. Betsy Grunch's experience emphasizes the importance of understanding nutrition rather than relying on fad diets. Dr. Dr. Betsy Grunch, a neurosurgeon from the outskirts of Atlanta, lost 50 pounds when she quit fad dieting and educated herself about nutrition. Before losing weight, she regularly ate fast food, such as pizza or Chick-fil-A, and had energy-dense drinks like sodas and frappuccinos. Now, she intermittently fasts by skipping breakfast, then she eats a large, high-protein lunch and a light dinner.
Healthier Versions of Favorite Meals: Making Sustainable Changes
Benji Xavier's journey highlights the power of making healthier versions of your favorite meals. Benji Xavier, a content creator from New Jersey, lost 100 pounds by making healthier versions of his favorite meals. Xavier used to eat a lot of fast food because it was convenient.
The Butterfly Effect: Metabolic Bariatric Surgery
Metabolic bariatric weight loss surgery can result in profound, positive changes across multiple facets of a person’s life - a phenomenon known as the butterfly effect.
Kerri Carvalho has lost 105 pounds, but she’s only now beginning to accept that the new, “smaller” woman in the mirror is the same "bigger girl" she once was. She faced her bodyweight challenges head-on, adhering to a rigorous daily work-out routine and weaving in and out of various diet plans. She was a frequent competitor in Spartan races, the world’s premier obstacle course race, achieving its badge of honor, the Trifecta. Even her hypothyroidism was under control. But when her A1C tests revealed she was pre-diabetic, her endocrinologist prescribed phentermine to enhance her weight-loss efforts and further reduce her A1C. To everyone’s dismay, instead of losing weight, she gained more. The endocrinologist and her primary care physician agreed it was best to stop the phentermine. At this juncture, she began to reconsider the weight-loss surgery she had long dismissed as an “easy way out.”
Carvalho recognizes now that her opposition to weight-loss surgery was unfounded. Her perspective changed after consulting with Beth Ryder, MD, FACS, director of the Center for Medical and Surgical Weight Loss. Once my eyes were opened, I became more accepting that I would not be giving in to something that was easy,” she reflects. “It was actually a million times harder than going to the gym.”
Carvalho’s expectations were exceeded. While her significant weight-loss is an exception, she experienced little discomfort following surgery. Although she bounced back quickly, she continues to adjust to the rigor of maintaining sufficient nourishment and hydration. Her favorite protein is chicken, and she’s found new recipes that satisfy her supportive husband, and three adult children, too. Along with her weight loss, Carvalho’s A1C results are normal, something she never achieved previously. Her athletic performance has improved as well. She has shaved 25 minutes off her Spartan race time and is able to reach the top in the rope-climbing obstacle. To complement her weight loss, Carvalho underwent plastic surgery to have extra skin around stomach removed and a breast lift.
Another positive outcome for Carvalho is her reflection in the mirror. While she hasn’t changed on the inside, it’s been only recently that she has accepted her exterior transformation. My decision to have the weight-loss surgery remains the best decision I could have made. It gave me my life back, and so much more.
It is the little things in life that stand out most to Dave Sousa after his metabolic bariatric surgery - being able to buy clothes in any store, to incorporate color into his wardrobe, to take long walks with his dogs, to not worry about sitting in booths when eating in restaurants with his family. Today, Sousa views food as fuel, finding satisfaction in healthier alternatives that cater to his cravings without compromising his progress, like the recent discovery of a sugar free alternative of his favorite candy - black jelly beans. If it wasn’t for the surgery, I would still be 400 pounds trying to figure out how to lose the weight.
When Christina Pimentel Puckett runs around the playground with her children, she is not simply being a good mom. She is doing something that seemed almost impossible to her a few years ago. In addition to changing her appearance, the effects of the surgery have impacted her self-confidence and helped her reclaim a joy in activities as simple as shopping, which once felt daunting. I feel like I have become a different person since having surgery; a better person. My attitude towards myself and how I feel about myself has improved tremendously.
Undergoing metabolic bariatric surgery is a monumental decision that requires mental preparation and a deep understanding of one's relationship with food. Sanchez faced this challenge head-on. It’s an internal battle. Things you think have nothing to do with why you gained weight have everything to do with it - everything to do with how you grew up, everything to do with what happened in your past. We have to mentally get in there, and we have to mentally be strong because, if not, the surgery won’t be a success for you.
Post-surgery, Sanchez experienced a remarkable physical transformation that embodies the butterfly effect-small changes leading to significant impacts. From struggling to walk up stairs to walking six miles, her life has taken a 180-degree turn. You’re worth everything you’re going to do. You’re worth everything that is going to happen after. You’re worth every amazing step after the surgery.
Jamie had a long road to surgery. Having struggled with weight her whole life, she looked into a laparoscopic weight loss procedure while living in Connecticut almost 20 years ago. Jamie says the surgery changed her relationship with food, helping her discover mindful eating.
Kellie Armstrong, MSN, RN, CBN, had body contouring surgery. Her surgeon was Rachel Sullivan, MD. She had gastric bypass surgery in 2005 and committed to a successful lifestyle transformation, losing and keeping off over 100 pounds. Patients like Kellie who seek out body contouring surgery have worked really hard to lose all this weight and achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Finding a Supportive Community: The Power of Connection
When she began caring for recovering weight-loss surgery patients in the special care unit, she met Kellie Armstrong, MS, RN, CBN, program manager of the Center for Medical and Surgical Weight Loss. And she’s thrilled to be the active mom to her children that she wants to be.
The Importance of Support and Preparation
After surgery, the follow up and support was amazing. I wasn't sold a 'quick fix'; I was offered the opportunity to utilize a tool that can help me change my life and it absolutely did.
Key Takeaways
These weight loss success stories provide valuable insights and inspiration for anyone looking to transform their health:
- Find your motivation: Whether it's a health scare, a desire to be more active, or a special event, identify your personal reason for wanting to lose weight.
- Embrace small changes: Gradual, sustainable changes are more likely to lead to long-term success than drastic measures.
- Seek support: Surround yourself with a supportive network of family, friends, or professionals who can encourage you on your journey.
- Be patient and persistent: Weight loss is a process, and there will be ups and downs. Don't get discouraged by setbacks; just keep moving forward.
- Celebrate your successes: Acknowledge and celebrate your milestones along the way to stay motivated.
- Find what works for you: Experiment with different diets, exercise routines, and strategies to discover what best suits your individual needs and preferences.