Weight Loss Success: Natasha Johnson Learned To Maintain And Is Keeping Off 95 Pounds

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Name: Natasha Johnson
Age: 33
Height: 5'5"
Before Weight: 225 pounds

How I Gained It: I've been heavy all my life. As a child, I was an eater, and there was hardly a filter. My younger sister often left food on her plate after we completed our meals, and I was always happy to help her finish. I was an active child; nevertheless, I never lost weight. I do believe it was a direct result of my poor eating habits.

By the time I made it to junior high school, I was wearing my mother's clothes. Mind you, my mom's clothes were a size 10/12. I should not have been able to fit into her clothes! By high school, I was a solid size 14/16, and as I mentioned before, I've always been heavy, so I simply believed that it was "just the way the cookie crumbles".

I remained at around 185 to 190 pounds throughout college and into my early 20s.

Breaking Point: I was pregnant (and eventually miscarried) at the age of 21. I miscarried at five months, during my second trimester. I was 185 pounds when I first learned I was pregnant, and I gained a total of 40 pounds during that five-month period of time. Granted, I was never a small person to begin with, but I was tipping the scale at 225, and I knew something would have to give. There was never an explanation as to why I miscarried, but in my heart, I always knew that my weight gain was a factor. I also knew that if I ever had plans to carry a child to full term in the future, my health would have to be a priority. I continued to carry that weight on my frame for an additional three years before I finally decided I was going to take action and do something about the situation.

How I Lost It: In the summer of 2003, an acquaintance of mine at church was on the Atkins' Diet, and he was losing weight rather rapidly. I inquired about his quick weight loss, and he referred me to the Atkins' Diet. I researched it, saw that the bulk of the diet meant cutting all the carbs I was eating, and I decided I would give it a try.

I began the Atkins' Diet in August of 2003, and by the end of my first month, I'd already lost 20 pounds. I continued on, and by February of the following year, I was down to 160 pounds. I also signed up for a gym membership, and that helped me maintain my new-found weight loss for quite some time.

I went back to school in January of 2005 to begin working on my Master's degree, and by the summer of 2006, I had regained 20 pounds. This time, I knew that I couldn't go back to cutting carbs. I was going to have to learn how to eat correctly if I wanted to maintain long-lasting, lifetime weight loss. I joined Jenny Craig in October of 2007. The pitch at that time was, "Lose 20 pounds for $20, plus the cost of food." Well, I was 175 when I entered the program, and by January of 2008, I rang in the new year at my lowest weight to date: 155 pounds.

I continued maintaining that weight, and in February of 2011, my husband and I went to Jamaica with my grandparents. We spent seven weeks there, mainly in the countryside, and the lifestyle was conducive to healthy eating and constant daily activity. Without even trying, I lost 15 pounds. I returned to the U.S. that April, at my new lowest weight to date: 140 pounds.

My husband and I continue living an active, healthy lifestyle. My favorite activities are dancing, racquetball, cycling and swimming. I currently weigh 130 pounds, and I want nothing more than for my story to be an inspiration to others. Stay committed, stay focused, stay centered, stay consistent and most importantly, have fun! Losing weight doesn't have to be a chore! If I can do it, so can you!

After Weight: 130 pounds

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Comments

[dorism9000]

02:23 PM on 08/06/2012

BeautifulBrownBabbyDoll!!

[BlueCollarChick]

09:05 PM on 06/04/2012

IMO, she was attractive even when she was heavy, probably because she had such a beautiful smile. The weight loss didn't hurt, of course. Now she's stunning!

[Tnt Johnson]

04:57 PM on 05/20/2012

Hey! Check me and hubby out in the Commercial Appeal on May 8th!

[Tnt Johnson]

05:01 PM on 05/20/2012

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/08/memphis-tips-scales-as-fattest-city-in-country/

[ultra violet]

11:04 PM on 05/08/2012

You look fabulous. Great job.

[robroy777]

09:06 AM on 04/30/2012

She did Atkin's and therefore lowered her insulin levels enough to burn her own fat tissue for fuel (endogenous fuel), thereby providing for her basal metabolic needs and so avoiding semi-starvation (which occurs frequently on calorie-restricted, low-fat (therefore, high carb/high insulin) diets).

How is this useless? It's science. It's fact. Nothings "fadish" about it; it's basic human physiology and the diet used from the 1860's-1960's at Stanford, Cornell, etc. to help obese people lose weight.

Read Gary Taubes's, "Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It," for more information. Then read "Good Calories, Bad Calories" for even more information.

[Oakland]

06:08 AM on 04/23/2012

This article is useless - nice for her, but useless for others..... There are people who don't overeat and still can't lose weight. It isn't just cut out: sweets, soda, beer or anything like that because it isn't there in the first place. There are genetic and metabolic reasons why some people can't lose and keep off weight - not to mention our food is full of growth hormones and pure junk.

[Nathalie Zionista Dsert]

07:43 PM on 04/27/2012

How is it USELESS if she's just talking about what worked for her with the hopes of inspiring others? I didn't read anywhere in the article where she said what works for her will work for anyone else or that overeating is the ONLY reason people are overweight.

That's not the point of these stories at all...that's why they showcase different people in different situations. Why don't u take your negativity elsewhere??

[Oakland]

11:49 AM on 05/14/2012

Inspiring others?  Er, no.  Inspiration, motivation and determination comes from within.   I don't like cheer leading.  

[catmagnet]

01:23 PM on 04/30/2012

Those people are usually far and few between...and should be working with their doctor.

[Munisekar Seo]

09:49 AM on 04/20/2012

The first thing you must understand is that there is absolutely NO quick fix solution. There are no pills or supplements of any sort that will help you lose your abdominal fat faster. Also, none of the gimmicky ab rockers, rollers, or ab belts will help get rid of abdominal fat either. You can't spot reduce your stomach fat by using any of these worthless contraptions. It simply doesn't work that way. http://greatestviews.com/the-diet-solution-program-does-it-really-work/

[Munisekar Seo]

09:44 AM on 04/20/2012

So what gets rid of extra abdominal fat? Is there actually a REAL solution beyond all of the gimmicks and hype that you see in ads and on commercials for "miracle" fat loss products?

http://greatestviews.com/the-diet-solution-program-does-it-really-work/

[Montana 123]

09:11 PM on 04/17/2012

What an amazing transformation!

[GreatestViews]

12:36 PM on 04/16/2012

The before and after photos are truly inspiring. One day I hope to have photos like this. I actually started at a little over 280 pounds and since starting the diet solution program and dropped 30 pounds in two months.

http://greatestviews.com/the-diet-solution-program-does-it-really-work/

Maybe the link above can help someone else. It really helped me and this article just inspires me to lose even more and get into shape.

[1rpp]

04:58 PM on 04/15/2012

The before and after photos are inspiring. I would have liked to have seen the same pose and similar style clothes in both to really appreciate the difference.

[proscanusa]

11:04 PM on 04/15/2012

swabbed your check eh?

I bet you did...

[hayleebugsmith]

12:43 PM on 04/15/2012

Natasha you look wonderful. Congrats- wish I could get inspired, but just can't. Best of luck to you.

[alishac]

11:57 AM on 04/24/2012

why do you feel like you cant get inspired? i am asking out of curiosity, i am having a hard time getting the motivation to do something about my body

[hayleebugsmith]

12:16 PM on 04/24/2012

Being unemployed is very depressing- nothing much seems to matter any more though I keep job searching-still. Think I am just numb inside right now

[hayleebugsmith]

12:28 PM on 04/24/2012

Being unemployed after working for 37 years is part of it. It's food or meds or bills. I am just a little disgusted since I have been job searching for 1 1/2 years now and still see no light at the end of the tunnell.. Just kind of numb inside-and worried.

[DFred]

03:40 PM on 04/14/2012

You wouldn't know it's the same woman from the photo's Perhaps it's not.

[Art Vose]

03:39 PM on 04/14/2012

Don't try to make maintianing a healthy weight and healthy lifestyle about political correctness. It is just plain more healthy for everyone to not be over weight. Natasha was beautiful before her weight loss, but after her weight loss she is beautiful and healthy. Good job Natasha!