Former weight: 375 pounds
Current weight: 221 pounds
Pounds lost: 154 pounds
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Age: 28 years
How long she's kept it off: Daniel started in June 2008 and met her goal in July 2009.
Personal life: "I'm a 28-year-old employed college student," Daniel says. "My major is information technology with a concentration in project management. I'm currently attending American InterContinental University."
Turning point: "It was when my best friend signed us up for the gym. I made the commitment right there and then to stick with it, and I did. In making that commitment, I started to research online diet programs. Being a college student, I was looking for something affordable. That's when I discovered SparkPeople.com (www.sparkpeople.com). They provide fitness tools, meal plans, support and resources to help me reach my goal. With the help of SparkPeople.com, I realized I needed to make this a lifestyle change."
Diet plan: Daniel started logging all her meals; seeing how many calories she was consuming was an eye-opener. She also dropped sodas, sugary drinks and eliminated fried foods. "For me, the biggest thing I did was read the nutritional label on everything I bought," she says. "I made myself aware of what exactly I'm putting in my body and the recommended intake my body needs."
Exercise routine: "I work out 4 to 5 days a week for about an hour to an hour and a half. I do a mixture of cardio and strength training. I also do cycle classes two -- three times a week."
Biggest challenge: "Remembering that tomorrow is another day and not feeling guilty when I overeat."
How life has changed: "It really feels great being able to walk into any store and buy clothes and not be restricted to specialty stores," she says. "Also, surprisingly, everyone that has seen the transformation sees me as an inspiration and often asks me for advice and tips. I must say, I learned a lot on this journey. Saying I'm proud of myself is an understatement."
Be an inspiration: If you've made positive changes in your diet and/or fitness routine and are happy with the results, please share your success with us. Include your e-mail address, a daytime phone number and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG). Write: Success Stories, c/o Holly Steel, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or e-mail ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
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