How Four Women Lost 361 Pounds--And Kept it Off

Ready, set, drop the pounds! Our beginner's guide to running--not to mention these four amazing success stories--will forever change your life. By Christine Richmond, REDBOOK.

This began as your standard weight-loss article--some diet, some fitness, before-and-after photos. But as we dug in and spoke to dozens of women who've lost 20, 50, 100-plus pounds, we noticed a theme: Running took the weight off. They told us it was the surest, fastest, funnest way to transform their bodies. Many were intimidated by running until they realized it's accessible, efficient, and practically free (all you really need is a pair of sneakers). No wonder they got hooked, along with the 4 million American women who run 110 or more days per year. That's how our slim-down story became a beginner's guide to running that'll get you out on a street or trail. You may never look back.

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Jessica Marr, 27
Before: 268 pounds
Now: 128 pounds "I've been on a two-and-a-half-year journey of losing 140 pounds--and running has been a huge part of it. Once I busted through the denial about my weight by stepping on a bathroom scale, I started counting calories and watching my portions. Then I took advantage of having a gym in my building and got on the treadmill: I'd walk for two minutes, then run for two minutes, until eventually I could jog for 10 minutes straight without slowing down. When the weather warmed up, I took my runs outside. Outdoors, jogging felt easier. Instead of focusing on the numbers on the treadmill, I'd just run. I signed up for a 10K race and was so nervous that I almost backed out. But I got through it. As the weight came off--I lost 30 pounds in the first four months, then continued losing--I got faster and my knees weren't as sore. I just completed the New York City half marathon, and even now, the first mile is still the hardest. But it gets easier after that, so don't give up!"

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Danielle Rossi, 39
Before: 275 pounds
Now: 174 pounds
"After having two kids, my weight crept up. I was baffled by how to fit exercise into my life; I didn't have time to be in the gym five days a week. In the past I could never last longer than 10 minutes on a treadmill, but running seemed convenient, so I decided to give it a try. I did a 5K obstacle run with my husband where you could walk or jog. After that, I stuck with it and later signed up for my first half marathon. To train, I'd get up at 4:30 a.m. twice a week and do a three-mile run/walk. Sundays, I'd log five miles. At first I was scared that people would see me and think, Ugh, she's so slow. But as a working mom, running soon became a much-needed escape. The night before race day, I said to a relative, 'I don't want to finish last,' and he told me, 'Even if you do, you'll have finished--and there's always someone who won't.' I completed the race with 15 family members cheering me on. It took about two years to lose 101 pounds. I still might not be the smallest person in a room, but I love that I'm one of the fittest."

Latoya Shauntay Snell, 28
Before: 265 pounds
Now: 185 pounds
"I was struggling with post partum depression and was turning to food--I'd eat three or four packs of peanut butter cups daily, binge at night, and got bigger and bigger. I knew I needed to start taking care of myself. When I saw a Facebook friend post that he was considering a half marathon, without even thinking I responded and said that if he did it, so would I. I had no running experience whatsoever, but I told myself: 'A deal's a deal.' I downloaded the RunKeeper app on my phone, and within about four weeks I was amazed that I could run a mile or two without stopping. My pace was a 17- or 18-minute mile, which is like walking for most people, but I still lost 10 pounds in the first two weeks--and continued on to lose 80 pounds in one year. By the half marathon, I'd worked up to a 13-minute mile. I got very emotional around mile 9 thinking about my dad, who passed away in 2009, and cried because I wished he could be there. At that moment, a friend linked up with me, and we ran the rest of the way together."

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LuAnne Riddle, 42
Before: 155 pounds
Now: 115 pounds
"Last year during a family vacation, I walked into a gorgeous dress shop to treat myself--and nothing fit! It felt awful. When I got home, I began walking a two-mile loop in my neighborhood: I had to start somewhere. Next, I set a goal of trying to run the loop. At first it was just little bursts of running and longer stretches of walking, but I built my way up. I can't describe the feeling of accomplishment I had the first time I ran the whole thing. After that, I'd run the loop every morning, and if I had time in the evenings I'd run it again. I loved that jogging was something I could just open my front door and do. In terms of nutrition, I'm a teacher, and several colleagues at my school had been doing Jenny Craig. I liked how simple and convenient their meals looked, so I got on board too. Whenever friends who are inspired by my weight loss ask me how they can become runners, I tell them: Don't think about it, just get out there and move. Do what you can do and build from there. The pounds came off in about eight months--because I was focused on the running, not the weight."

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