Here's How 15 Women Lost 50+ Pounds (2024)

Having trouble sticking to your weight loss goal? You might want to adopt a few lifestyle habits to keep you motivated. Watch this video for all five tricks to help manage your weight.

These 15 women each lost over 50 pounds. Here, they share their weight loss journeys and tips for achieving their goals. Their creative approaches include everything from building an Instagram following to keeping motivated by wearing neon.

30, 5'7", New Orleans

BEFORE: 220 lb., size 18

AFTER: 155 lb., size 4

TOTAL LOST: 65 lb., seven sizes

Paige's weight loss tips:

Keep inspiration everywhere: I have my phone background set to a motivational quote. Words of wisdom like "If you want it, work for it" offer a little pick-me-up every time I look at the screen.

Don't fixate on pounds: Throughout my journey, I have always relied on active goals, like running a 5K or building muscle, to measure my progress. Working toward real-life results is way more rewarding than obsessing over a number on the scale.

Find delicious swaps: Instead of completely giving up my favorite comfort foods, I make them healthier. For example, for my good-for-you hash browns, I cook one shredded sweet potato in a tablespoon of coconut oil until it's soft and crispy, then I top it with cinnamon and sea salt. Talk about yummy!

Emily Liedtke

40, 5'2", Beaverton, Ore.

BEFORE: 340 lb., size 26

AFTER: 129 lb., size 2

TOTAL LOST: 211 lb., 12 sizes

Emily's weight loss tips:

Aim for 15: When dreading a workout, I tell myself to try to make it through the first 15 minutes. After that point, I almost always feel more energized and want to keep going.

Find a unique reward: Instead of celebrating with food when I hit a goal, I treat myself to something like a hike with my husband or a massage.

Change your vocab: I used to tell myself that I "couldn't" have something, which made me crave it even more. Now I say I "don't" engage in an unhealthy habit. It's a little trick that makes the behavior seem less like a choice and more like part of my lifestyle.

Nail down your emotion: I created my own mood emojis to help monitor how I feel after every workout and meal. This lets me keep tabs on what's working for me and what's not.

25, 6'0", Jackson, Tenn.

BEFORE: 304 lb., size 26

AFTER: 190 lb., size 10

TOTAL LOST: 114 lb., eight sizes

Laura's weight loss tips:

Instagram it!: After I lost my first 40 pounds, I created an Instagram account to track my fitness. As my number of followers grew, so did my motivation. Being part of a community kept me accountable.

Score free fitness: Many weight-loss programs cost big bucks, but there are also plenty of reputable online resources that give you the same benefits for free. One of my faves: Blogilates by Cassey Ho.

Buy a band: When I cannot get to the gym, I turn to my resistance band; it's an easy and portable way to add strength training on the go.

Read the menu: I love eating out, but restaurants offer too many options and don't always list ingredients. To keep from consuming more than I'd planned, I choose a healthy option from the menu ahead of time.

Casie

43, 5'4", Marietta, Penn.

BEFORE: 209 lb., size 20

AFTER: 133 lb., size 2-4

TOTAL LOST: 76 lb., nine sizes

Casie's weight loss tips:

Bag it up: I portion out all my snacks, like almonds or sliced apples, ahead of time in ziplock bags. This lets me take my healthy eats anywhere while keeping my serving sizes in check.

Crush a quickie workout: On extra-busy days, I do a Tabata sequence—in just 20 minutes, I can get a full-body workout. It revs up my heart rate.

Write it out: When I dread the gym, I grab a pen and paper and map out my workout. Having a game plan prevents me from wasting time during my session.

Find sweet swaps: I love peanut butter. To avoid some of the fat that comes with it, I mix the powdered kind, PB2, into Greek yogurt. It gives me that nutty, creamy taste.

34, 5'1¾", Reno, Nev.

BEFORE: 198 lb., size 16

AFTER: 115 lb., size 2

TOTAL LOST: 83 lb., seven sizes

Shannon's weight loss tips:

Rock your motivation: I wear bright clothes at the gym with fun sayings like "Drink coffee, put on some gangster rap, and handle it." It sets my workout tone.

Judge your labels: I always peruse food labels. Whenever there's something listed that I can't grow or make myself, I put the item back. It makes weeding out unhealthy processed foods much more straightforward.

Indulge wisely: Many people have weekend "cheat" days. Instead of depriving myself all week and potentially bingeing on the weekend, I choose sweets that fuel my body throughout the week, like Trader Joe's Coconut Cashews.

Erica Calderon

34, 5'8", Phoenix

BEFORE: 230 lb., size 14

AFTER145 lb., size 6/8

TOTAL LOST: 85 lb., 3-4 sizes

Erica's weight loss tips:

Schedule sweat sessions: Raising two girls keep me busy, so I have to be creative about fitting in exercise. My ideal window: when my youngest goes down for her nap and the other is at school. I treat workouts as meetings that I absolutely cannot miss.

Hang out far from the kitchen: I always crave sweets after dinner while watching TV. Sometimes, I'll go upstairs to watch my shows instead of sitting in the living room, which is attached to the kitchen. That way, I'm less likely to scavenge.

Invest in a slow cooker: It's the ultimate time-saver. First thing in the morning, I throw in something simple, like turkey and sweet potatoes, and at the end of the day, I have a delicious and nutritious meal waiting for me.

38, 5'6", El Monte, Calif.

BEFORE: 217 lb., size 16

AFTER: 140 lb., size 6

TOTAL LOST: 77 lb., five sizes

Maribel's weight loss tips:

Pick a power playlist: Starting my workouts with pump-me-up songs like "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift keeps me motivated throughout the session.

mantraFind a : On days when I want to give up, I repeat these words: "I'm very strong; I can do this." Just saying the sentence out loud stops me from feeling weak.

Broadcast your goals: I decided to register for a 12-week body transformation contest at my gym. When I joined the challenge, I told everyone about my plan to win. That motivated me to keep going.

Jennifer Lasher

41, 5'6", Hauppauge, N.Y.

BEFORE: 210 lb., size 16

AFTER: 135 lb., size 6

TOTAL LOST: 75 lb., five sizes

Jennifer's weight loss tips:

Set challenging goals: My goal is to run 100 miles in a month. I finally hit it (and then some) this past August with 104.

Spiralize it!: As an Italian-American, I find it tough to cut out pasta, but I use zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash instead.

Carry a Mary Poppins purse: My bag is always packed with healthy snacks like nuts, apples, and hard-boiled eggs. It stops me from getting so hungry that I overeat.

25, 5'3", Bradley Beach, N.J.

BEFORE: 183 lb., size 12

AFTER: 123 lb., size 2

TOTAL LOST: 60 lb., five sizes

Danica's weight loss tips:

Bring your gym anywhere: I love the Cardio Sculpt and Black Fire videos on DailyBurn. They're amazing for tightening my abs!

Pump the beats: I'm a music writer, so I always add to my workout playlists. Social Distortion's "Highway 101" is an old fave!

Get good grains: My power pick: quinoa. It's versatile and filling. I add it to salads with sliced grapes.

Natalie Jill

43, 5'2", San Diego

BEFORE: 175 lb., size 10-12

AFTER: 113 lb., size 2

TOTAL LOST: 62 lb., four sizes

Natalie's weight loss tips:

Inject some fun: When looking for workout motivation, I pull out my favorite neon exercise clothes for a burst of energy. Plus, yellow and pink make me feel upbeat!

Hit the floor: My go-to: plank-based moves. They're great for shaping your abs and upper body. Make sure you're engaging your core, keeping your glutes tight, and tucking your pelvis under to protect your lower back.

Think: Healthy fats: I eat a lot of protein-packed meals filled with good fats. My favorite is shrimp with a ton of veggies, all cooked up in coconut oil.

35, 5'3", Waco, Texas

BEFORE: 210 lb., size 16

AFTER: 132 lb., size 4

TOTAL LOST: 78 lb., six sizes

Bianca's weight loss tips:

Get grilling: I love grilled shrimp tacos on corn tortillas. They're flavorful, low on calories, and easy to make.

Pump up your playlist: My workout jams are super eclectic—Latin, pop, and contemporary Christian music! Right now, I love "Soul on Fire" by Third Day, for when I hit the stair climber.

Try a training plan: After doing Jamie Eason's free 12-week LiveFit strength-training program at bodybuilding.com, I wore a bikini for the first time since I was 5!

Suheily Rodriguez

27, 5'7", North Wales, Penn.

BEFORE: 236 lb., size 18

AFTER: 140 lb., size 2

TOTAL LOST: 96 lb., eight sizes

Suheily's weight loss tips:

Eat yogurt for a flat belly: When I have more Greek yogurt (I like Yoplait's tropical flavors), even for just a week, my tummy is instantly flatter.

Get your probiotics: It's a Korean stew made of kimchi, tofu, chili pepper, pork belly, red pepper paste, sesame oil, and scallions, and it's pretty low-cal, too.

26, 5'8", Chicago

BEFORE: 328 lb., size 28

AFTER 154 lb., size 4

TOTAL LOST: 174 lb., 12 sizes

Annabelle's weight loss tips:

Track with an app: MyFitnessPal helped me become more aware of what I was putting into my body.

Pack DIY snacks: My go-to pumpkin-spice cream cheese muffins are protein-filled to keep me satisfied longer.

Lighten up meals: I make low-cal versions of my fave gourmet foods, like stuffed portobello mushrooms.

Find a better indulgence: I top berries, nectarines, and cherries with homemade whipped cream, nuts, and dark chocolate.

Erika Cataldi

32, 5'9", Reading, Penn.

BEFORE: 205 lb., size 16

AFTER: 135 lb., size 4/6

TOTAL LOST: 70 lb., six sizes

Erika's weight loss tips:

Snap your progress: I'd take photos of myself and send them to my mom to record my progress. I still send her selfies occasionally!

Say yes to seltzer: Swapping soda for sparkling water made a big difference. I especially like Walmart's Clear American in key lime flavor. It's like lemon-lime soda—without all the calories.

Cook with coconut oil: It's a must in my kitchen. When I lightly fry food, like my homemade chicken fingers, it gives a slightly sweeter flavor.

30, 5'3", Fairburn, Ga.

BEFORE: 174 lb., size 14

AFTER: 114 lb., size 0/2

TOTAL LOST: 60 lb., six sizes

Erica's weight loss tips:

Eat chocolate: Sweets are an everyday necessity for me. I treat myself to a bit of chocolate at each meal, so I never feel deprived.

Prep meals on Sundays: I precook my meals every Sunday, storing four to five days' worth of salads in Tupperware. This simplifies my life.

Snack like the Greeks: My go-to is a mix of tomatoes, cucumbers, olive oil, fresh garlic, and a little lemon juice. Yum!

A Quick Review

Still enjoying foods you love like chocolate, adopting a mantra, and prepping meals are just a few weight loss tips that helped these 15 women lose over 50 pounds each. If you are starting a weight management journey, talk to a healthcare provider you trust to help develop a plan that works for your lifestyle. Your best bet is one you can sustain that still lets you enjoy your food!