I Lost Weight: Jennifer Andersen Took Up Tennis And Lost Nearly 160 Pounds

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Name: Jennifer Andersen
Age: 30
Height: 5'6"
Before Weight: 324 pounds

How I Gained It: I was not a heavy child or teen, but when I had my first child at the age of 20, it all went downhill from there. I gained 100 pounds while pregnant, and, at the time, losing that kind of weight seemed impossible. I just assumed I would be heavy for the rest of my life. I ate whatever I wanted and did no exercise. I was eating probably close to 4,000 or 5,000 calories a day. When I got married, on November 19, 2009, I was at my heaviest, weighing 324 pounds.

Breaking Point: After being terribly embarrassed over the wedding photos, and realizing how obese I really was, a change was in order.

How I Lost It: I was -- and still am -- a stay at home mother, with a fixed income and not a lot of extra spending money for a gym membership, pre-packaged diet foods or diet programs. With the support of my family, I came up with a diet and exercise plan that actually works.

I started out by eating 1,000 calories a day. I had a journal where I wrote down everything I ate and drank. I now use the Myfitnesspal app on my phone. I did aerobics and took up tennis. My whole family plays, and my father got me out on that court and working hard. I became an avid tennis player, working out two to three hours a day, five days a week.

I lost 100 pounds before I found out I was pregnant with my second child. I took up walking and yoga and changed my calorie intake to 1,500. After I had the baby I decided to try running. I have never been a runner, so I started out small, running for 40 seconds and walking for 20 seconds until I could jog a mile within two weeks' time. Now, I can easily finish a 10K without even breaking for water.

Now that I am a runner, my diet consists of foods high in protein, low in sugar and still low in calories. I currently eat 1,200 calories a day and run six days a week. I don't eat out much. All of my food is homemade, for the most part. And I try not to eat after 5 p.m. I have lost an additional almost-60 pounds since giving birth in December 2011.

I absolutely love who I am today. Thirty is the new 20! I will be 31 years old later this summer, and I feel better then I ever did in my 20s. It is still strange to have pictures taken of me because I used to shy away from them, thinking I would look heavy and be embarrassed, but now when I see them I realize how much my hard work has paid off, and it is actually enjoyable. I actually love looking in the mirror and shopping for clothes now, where as before it was embarrassing and more of a chore. My family members tell me that my personality has come back, they love how happy I am and are all so proud. It's a wonderful feeling to have accomplished something so huge. To lose more than 150 pounds was something I did not think was ever going to happen. I thought I would be heavy for the rest of my life.

Current Weight: 165 pounds. My goal weight is 145 pounds, and I would like to reach that by the end of October.

The Huffington Post publishes photographs as they are submitted to us by our readers.

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Comments

[iRock]

12:31 PM on 08/19/2012

I like that she found what worked for her. 1,000 or 1200 calories a day may seem extreme to some, but it works for her, and no one can tell her she didn't earn it.

Well done.

[IGottaBMe]

10:23 PM on 08/16/2012

She runs 6 days per week. I wonder how far.

[Matt7678]

12:56 PM on 08/10/2012

Not only have they lost the weight, but the weight loss seems to make them lose years off of their face. In the over weight photos they look old, but in the slim photos they look young and rejuvinated.

[twinpossible]

09:09 PM on 07/30/2012

I met a new friend at the pool today which has a similar story, but she is trying to be on the losing side now. She once was thin, her whole young life, and kept complimenting my figure and mourning her 'bikini days' after three miscarriages and the loss of her mother and then her father within 16 months' time, then her final pregnancy resulting in a son.

All of the stress made her hit the breaking point and stress-eat. The pregnacy (freak thing during delivery) led her to need a hysterectomy so she could not concieve the little girl she always dreamed of, and she gained weight and belly bloat from that. It was just SOOO sad all around. I listened to her and helped her realize how incredible she is.

She was so thankful for meeting me today to help inspire her, but in fact..she inspired me in return. An amazing woman..beautiful at any size. BUT she wants to lose her weight now and get back, and with the attitude she has, much like this lovely lady here..I think she will be able to do just that. What a terrific and incredible accomplishment. This story will inspire many. It's never too late either!

She looks AWESOME!

http://www.twinpossible.com/blog

[sakismomiam]

08:55 PM on 07/30/2012

Congrats!

[circler52]

08:21 PM on 07/30/2012

She looks wonderful. Way to go gal. She must feel even better than she looks and she looks great. I lost 100 lbs power walking and a monitored diet in 9 months and at 69 feel like a new person. All vitals are normal. If I can do it so can anyone else. No one says it's easy, but it isn't all that hard either. Do it with a Dr keeping track so you don't overdo it, but do it.

[mcmutter]

07:38 PM on 07/30/2012

please call Guv Christie .... tell him he can clean himself up ......

[Stepboy]

07:35 PM on 07/30/2012

If the Mayor of NYC has anything to do with it he will put fat people in concertation camps and give them Breast Milk to eat. Since he dont own any shares in Formula.

[Stepboy]

07:25 PM on 07/30/2012

Oh My God She ate her MATE

[Donnamanucci]

07:01 PM on 07/30/2012

looking great

[tchspirit6]

05:31 PM on 07/30/2012

congratulations. y ou deserve an 'atta girl.'

what you accomplish is its own reward. live long and prosper.

[tsk0604]

05:05 PM on 07/30/2012

The greatest opportunity in dieting is to eat high protein low complex carb with 3 meals and two snacks per day, fair amounts of fruits and veggies. Why? It raises your metabolic rate, but also as importantly for people losing weight, it generates endorphins which are motivating for exercise! Aerobics are awesome as are weights in higher reps but heavier volume is great too.
White sugars, trans fats and white flour - eat those and you will never, ever see progress - from a nutritionist

[dagacheme]

04:52 PM on 07/30/2012

There you go. Hard work. Diet and exercise. No short cuts.

[twinpossible]

09:10 PM on 07/30/2012

No cheating. She deserves props for that! God bless her. xoxo

[walk1111]

04:39 PM on 07/30/2012

Keeping the weight off will involve a lifestyle change. It can be done but not through diets.

[ACR1226]

05:06 PM on 07/30/2012

she has kept the weight off for nearly three years at this point, this wasn't a quick fix. did you read the article you're commenting on, at all? her lifestyle has changed radically. she worked out 2-3 hours a day, five days a week. she can run 10k marathons. she's not talking about "a diet", she's talking about "a change of diet", do you get the difference?

[walk1111]

10:46 AM on 07/31/2012

Yes, I get the difference. Did you see the post to which my response was directed? Why are you being so nasty?

[nancon68]

04:21 PM on 07/30/2012

wow.....u are an inspiration.....thanks for sharing ur story.....and plz continue to share ur weight loss journey.....thanks!!!