ideal weight: three women with inspiring weight-loss stories [2]

ZENIA NEAL 30 Medical-billing professional
How she did it: From the inside out
Height: 5'3"
Before: 265
After: 180
Weight lost: 85 pounds

Zenia's Story

Smothered chicken, greens, macaroni and cheese, and corn bread. Zenia Neal, a single mom of three, loved southern-style cooking, like many of us. But it didn't love her back. Her poor diet and fondness for fast food, long hours at her job and gestational diabetes resulted in her skyrocketing from a size 6 to a size 20.

At first she was in denial about weighing 265 pounds at just five feet three inches tall, but it started to take an emotional toll. "When I saw pictures of myself, I'd say the camera was adding pounds," she recalls. "I didn't want to believe I was actually that size." Zenia also noticed that she didn't have the energy to play with her children and that she was too lethargic to even leave the house. She turned to diet pills but soon gained back all the weight she'd lost. "I started to hate myself and wouldn't go out because I didn't think anyone would look at me," she admits.

Then a friend recommended a funky fit aerobics class taught by Nettle Reeves. It involved much more than a workout: Her program had a spiritual component that helped establish motivation and self-confidence. "The instructor talked about getting right on the inside as well as the outside and learning how to love yourself," says Zenia, which she knew she wasn't doing.

On the road to a new life, Zenia learned about the Weight Watchers point system and devised a diet that worked for her. She traded soul food for yogurt, drank green tea, switched to baked meats from fried, and snacked on light popcorn or fruit. And when she hit a plateau, she changed her workouts to include water aerobics, cycling and walking. She also increased her exercise time, which ultimately led to additional weight loss. To date, Zenia has lost almost 85 pounds. Of her transformation, she says, "I lost the weight and gained back my confidence."

Expert Advice

HELPING ZENIA STAY ON TRACK

"I'm a firm believer in faith-based programs because there is an important connection between physical, mental and spiritual health," nutritionist Brown-Riggs says. The program Zenia has been involved in has not only motivated her to slim down but has also improved her self-confidence and allowed her to look at life in a new way. Some tips to help Zenia in her makeover:

Have it your way. Because she eats out every now and then, it's important that Zenia be mindful of how much she's ingesting, says Brown-Riggs. "If you know a restaurant's portion sizes are large, ask that half of your meal be wrapped to go and the remainder be left on your plate," she suggests. "Or eliminate temptation by asking that dressing or bread be left out of your serving."

Overcome snacking. Eat six small meals a day, rather than three big ones, to cut cravings between meals.

Switch things up. "Every month, change your routine to avoid hitting a plateau," suggests Cliff "Hollywood" Boyce, an Atlanta celebrity lifestyle trainer. Can't tear yourself away from the treadmill? Tackle some hills or increase your speed. Love that spinning class? Add some circuit training at the end of it.