Weight loss is a deeply personal journey, often filled with challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way. Several individuals have shared their stories, offering insights into the strategies and mindsets that contributed to their success. This article explores the weight loss journeys of Janna Brown and others, highlighting their approaches to diet, exercise, and overall well-being.
Janna Comer's Slow-Carb Success
Janna Comer from Stillwater, Oklahoma, feared being wheelchair-bound due to her weight and chronic knee pain. Instead of giving up the foods she loved, she experimented with her diet, replacing "fast carbs" with "slow carbs." Slow carbs include whole-grain bread, fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, lentils, soybeans, and almonds. She still allowed herself occasional sweets. This strategy, combined with joining a TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) support group, led to her shedding 110 pounds.
Janna, a biochemist, researched her food thoroughly. Replacing refined carbs with complex ones was a significant part of her strategy.
Understanding the Power of Slow Carbs
The concept of "slow carbs" has gained popularity as a sustainable approach to weight management. Melina Jampolis, MD, an internist and physician nutrition specialist, notes that many women prefer more carbohydrates than men, suggesting hormonal processes are involved in metabolism. Focusing on slow carbs as part of a balanced diet is an easy solution.
Slow carbs, such as sprouted grains, fermented sourdough breads, and steel-cut oats, don't cause blood sugar spikes because they aren't highly processed. This approach aligns with ancient nutrition principles and has found modern appeal through books like Tim Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Body. The slow-carb movement also attracts those in the gluten-free community since many slow carbs are gluten-free. Dr. Jampolis confirms that the impact on weight loss, psychological health, and overall well-being could be significant.
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Hannah's Approach: Portion Control and Protein
Hannah, who appeared on Love Is Blind, shared her lifelong struggle with weight. She told Us Weekly in October 2024 that she gained weight during COVID. At her heaviest, she weighed 220 pounds. After adjusting her diet and working out more, she dropped to 175 before going on Love Is Blind.
After the show, Hannah realized she could be fitter and healthier. She got on anxiety medication, which she believes helped her. She avoids crash diets, preferring to eat smaller portions of what she normally eats. She focuses on protein, especially fish, and isn't a picky eater, allowing herself treats like french fries occasionally.
June's Transformation: Gastric Sleeve and Tirzepatide
June documented her weight loss journey on Mama June: From Not to Hot in 2015. After undergoing gastric sleeve surgery, she dropped from 550 pounds to 311 pounds. In June 2024, she told Us Weekly that she had been taking tirzepatide (like Mounjaro) for eight weeks and had lost 30 pounds.
June aims to lose another 72.6 pounds but doesn't want to go back to her season 1 weight of 130 pounds.
Janelle Brown's Plant-Based Journey
Janelle Brown from Sister Wives has openly discussed her weight loss journey. In September 2021, she wrote via Instagram that she was taking care of herself and had found amazing plant-based supplements. She no longer experiences sugar cravings, brain fog, low energy, poor sleep, or inflammation. She emphasizes that this isn't an overnight fad or a diet pill.
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In July 2022, Janelle shared before-and-after photos on Instagram, explaining that the weight management program Plexus "was the magic I wish I had years and years ago." She added that she never thought she could feel as good as she did at 18 and is finally on her way to her ultimate health goals.
Janelle emphasizes that she wasn't searching for instant results, preferring a slow and steady approach. She added Pilates to her workout mix and has been pleased with how it complements her other workouts. Janelle wrote that "in the last year I have learned more about why our bodies crave what they crave and why they ‘act’ the way they do."
In January 2021, she encouraged her followers to try something new, promising that it would be different and urging them not to stop fighting to live their best lives. She also highlighted the benefits of the "pink drink" and Active. In April 2022, Janelle showed off her progress at Christine Brown’s 50th birthday party.
Talking about the day she “was tired of being tired,” Janelle wrote in a June 2022 Instagram post that eventually she “was ready for change. My mindset shifted and was ready to be open minded. I had ears willing to hear and eyes to see." She added, "My life has forever changed. I feel like me!"
In July 2022, Janelle shared that she had increased her strength and lost pounds and inches. She wrote, “Everyone’s weight loss journey looks different. I’ve said before I am always hesitant to share publicly any progress I make because, let’s be real, there are always nay sayers in the crowd." She added, “I never thought I could feel as good as I did at 18 and finally feel like I’m on my way to my ultimate health goals.”
Read also: Brown Rice and Weight Management
Janelle revealed that she lost 18 lbs on the scale but her inch loss has been incredible. This has been a result of her slowly healing her body, calming inflammation, healing her gut, and changing her insulin responses. She encouraged her followers to stay consistent. She also shared a photo of what 5, 10, 15 and 20 pounds of fat looked like once removed from the body.
In September 2022, Janelle wrote, “Life is too short to spend it at war with yourself. If you feel like junk, it’s because you are CHEMICALLY off balance.” In November 2022, she shared that she was back to her focused strength and training.
In January 2023, she wrote, “Everyone has a story. I had to decide between DAY ONE or ONE DAY. So I decided, I was ready for DAY ONE!" She also shared that she was doing a Reset with Savanah before going to Disney. Janelle posted a video of herself doing squats in the gym, writing, “I work out - not only to improve my health and change my body but for the empowerment it brings." She continued, “I have proven to myself over and over again that when you know how much you can push yourself there aren’t a lot of limits.”
She also revealed that she hired a trainer because she’ll be staying with her daughter for a few weeks as Maddie and husband Caleb prepare to welcome baby No.
In March 2023, Janelle wrote about her weight loss journey via Instagram, “It wasn’t overnight and I’m okay with that. Slow and steady wins the race.” She continued, “The best advice I can give you is, just start. Give it your all, be consistent and I can guarantee you’ll be pleased!"
Janelle shared, “Posting this unfiltered photo of me from Pilates today was a scary proposition,” before explaining her goals in the Pilates workout sphere. “I am less than perfect and let’s be honest with each other, social media can be pretty brutal. Usually there is a lot of judgement and umm… ‘helpful tips’. But there is power in being authentic."
Janelle shared a before-and-after comparison of her weight loss via Instagram Stories in September 2023. “I never thought I would find a product that made such a change in how I felt,” Janelle wrote.
During season 3 of the reality TV show, Janelle hit the gym with the other wives of her then-husband Kody Brown: Meri Brown, Christine Brown and Robyn Brown. “I remember when my kids were little, watching the weight creep up, creep up, creep up but I felt so powerless to stop it,” Janelle admitted during an October 2011 episode, detailing her diet woes. She continued at the time: “You know, my physical appearance has always been my Achilles heel."
Janelle opened up about how Plexus (“the pink drink”) from her company’s meal plan revolutionized her weight loss journey via Instagram, noting the beverage has helped her ongoing sugar addiction. “It's very simple. I am taking care of me,” she captioned a selfie at the time. “I have found amazing plant-based supplements that have rocked my world. I don't have the sugar cravings, brain fog, low energy, poor sleep, or inflammation like I used too. … This isn't an overnight fad nor a diet pill."
“This was the first Halloween I wasn't obsessed with all the candy. Janelle shared before-and-after photos of her journey via Instagram, writing, “To that one soul reading this today: know your tired, feel your weight won't budge, can't sleep, have sugar cravings, you’re fed up and you just don’t feel like YOU anymore. She continued: “Things get better when you try, even if you’ve tried everything before this. This is different, I promise. Don’t stop fighting to live your best life."
“A couple of months ago I added Pilates into my workout mix and I’ve been so pleased with how it compliments my other workouts,” she wrote via her Instagram Stories alongside a photo from the gym. "I have proven to myself over and over again that when you know how much you can push yourself there aren't a lot of limits. “Posting this unfiltered photo of me from Pilates today was a scary proposition,” Janelle wrote via Instagram.
Other Notable Journeys
- Jenelle: In 2011, a fitness trainer weighed Jenelle and revealed that she weighed 271 pounds.
- Katie: The former American Idol judge underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2003, one year after he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
- Randy Jackson: In his 2008 memoir, Body With Soul, Randy wrote about his wake-up call after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
- Mary Cosby: The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star revealed in November 2023 that she started taking Ozempic to lose weight.
- Tammy Slaton: Tammy and her sister, Amy Slaton, detail their weight loss journeys on TLC’s 1000-Lb. Sisters. In 2022, Tammy was inspired to check into a rehab facility after learning she weighed 717 pounds. Two years later, Tammy lost 500 pounds.
- Angela Deem: Angela underwent gastric sleeve reduction, liposuction on her back and a breast reduction in August 2020.
- Barry Plath: Daughter Moriah Plath wrote via Instagram in March 2023, “This man is a legend! Big biceps Barry is my spirit animal.”
- Tyler Baltierra: “OFFICIALLY DONE with this cut & I managed to drop 24 POUNDS while maintaining the strength I built while I was gaining,” Tyler wrote via Instagram.
- Vinny Guadagnino: The Jersey Shore star told Us that he works out with a trainer and loves arms but hates legs.
- Gregory Gourdet: Gregory wrote via Instagram that he gained weight in 2020 due to gyms closing, a running injury, and survival eating at work. He went keto and extended his fasting to 20 to 24 hours a few days a week.
- Sandra: Over 10 years ago, Sandra was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. A few months ago, her routine bloodwork came back abnormal and she was diagnosed with Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia.