These five women all hoped that dropping pounds would be easy — and all turned to diet pills. What they learned: Even if pills seemed to work, it wasn't for long, and often the price was miserable side effects. In time, they each found a sound weight-loss program based on nutritionally balanced menus and, in most cases, exercise as well. And when they did, a funny thing happened: They finally lost the weight that had plagued them.
Here, their inspiring stories.
"I made up my mind that I had to put my health first" — Annie Bennett, 31, Portland, OR
Then: 210 pounds, size 16
Now: 135 pounds, size 4
Height: 5' 8"
See Annie's after picture
A (Too) Sweet Start: In my early 20s, when I reached 190 pounds, I started taking Metabolife. In four months, I lost 30 pounds. But back then, Metabolife had ephedra in it [the FDA banned the stimulant in 2004 due to heart-related side effects], and I was jittery all day. And moody — I picked so many fights with my boyfriend then, it's a miracle he still wanted to be with me.
The Scare: I started having heart palpitations. After four months, I couldn't stand the way I was feeling, so I quit Metabolife. Once I did, I quickly regained all the weight — plus 20 pounds.
Find out what helped Annie finally lose the weight — for good >>
"I found the pills made me so shaky I was even hungrier" —Cheyenne Luken, 40, Flowery Branch, GA
Then: 257 pounds, size 22
Now: 157 pounds, size 10
Height: 5' 9"
See Cheyenne's after photo
The Yo-Yo Queen: Since my teen years, my weight has gone up and down. I have two daughters, 14 and 8, and with each pregnancy I gained and lost and then gained it all back again. I tried Dexatrim several times, but instead of losing my appetite, I found the pills made me so shaky I was even hungrier. I hit my heaviest weight — 257 — in 2004, when I moved to Georgia and gave up smoking.
Missing the Party: In 2006, I made an excuse to skip my husband's company Christmas party because I was afraid I'd be remembered as "Vern's wife, the fat lady." Then I asked him for the present I most wanted: to join LA Weight Loss...
Find out what it was about the program that helped Luken the most >>
"I can do more for myself now, and in my world, that's huge" —Donna Burke, 42, North Bellmore, NY
Then: 190 pounds, size 20
Now: 90 pounds, size 2
Height: 4' 11"
See Donna's after photo
An Extra Challenge: I was born with muscular dystrophy and have been unable to walk or stand since I was 4. I use a power chair, since I don't have the arm strength to push a manual one. Needless to say, I don't move much, so by the time I was 29, I weighed 190. My doctor prescribed Fen-Phen, which was very popular then. [The drug was removed from the market in 1997 after reports linked it to heart-valve damage.] I took it for a year and lost 50 pounds. But the pills made me ill, and when I stopped them, I regained it all. Soon after, I had to give up my job as a 911 operator because of health problems. I could no longer drive and became more of a burden on my husband.
Find out how Donna lost 100 lbs — without exercise >>
See how Sarah Napier lost 76 lbs — "The closer I got to my goal..."
See how Kimberly Daur lost 61 lbs — "My secret, I give in to my cravings..."
More good advice from GoodHousekeeping.com:
Test Your Calorie IQ
Real Women in the Right Swimsuits
Lose 2 Inches in 2 Weeks
Firm Arms in 15 Minutes
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