I Lost Weight: Jennifer Walked Laps Around Her Apartment Complex And Lost Half Her Body Weight

Got a success story of your own? Send it to us at [e-mail] and you could be featured on the site!

Name: Jennifer*
Age: 39
Height: 5'2"
Before Weight: 208 pounds

How I Gained It: My weight gain was basically attributed to eating all the wrong foods and way too much of them. Pizza, burgers, chips -- you name it, I ate it. Fast food was the quick way to satisfy my hunger and was the easy route to take since I was just so lazy. I hated cooking even though I am really good at it, so we always ordered pizza, subs or takeout from local restaurants.

I was on a blood pressure pill and a water pill as well. At my heaviest weight, I was 237 pounds. I lost weight and got down to 200, but then went back up to 232. Then I was down to 190 and then up to 208 again. That's when I decided it was time to stop roller-coastering and start something that I was going to finish.

Breaking Point: In April of 2010, my husband had to go out of town for a week for some training for his job. We were living in an apartment until we could move into our house, and it was unseasonably warm for Ohio in April.

I decided to pull out some summer clothes that I had tucked away in October. To my surprise, they did not fit. I got on the scale and was astounded to see that I had ballooned up to 208. I cried for an hour. After I wiped away the tears, I decided that was not going to be me anymore!

How I Lost It: I started walking "laps" around our apartment complex. In the beginning, one lap nearly killed me, but I kept going. I changed my meals and lowered calories, and by the end of the first week, I had lost five pounds. I thought, "I can do this!" -- so I pressed on.

Weeks went by and as it got hotter out, I moved my exercise into the small gym the complex had on site. As a resident, it was free for me to use. It had a treadmill, elliptical machine and a small strength-training machine. At first, I thought, if I could burn just 100 calories without keeling over, that would be an accomplishment. Soon 100 became 150 and so on. Then walking became jogging, which then became running. I continued working out, eating right and staying on track. My goal was to be a size 8, since I had never worn "single digit" jeans before.

Well, size 8 arrived! I was so excited. I figured if I could get to a size 8, I could certainly get to a size 6, which I did.

Now I weigh 104 pounds and I wear a size 00 or 0. I work out every day to maintain, spending about 30 minutes on the treadmill, lifting weights to stay toned and doing crunches. I'm half my size!

These days, I eat a lot of veggies, lean chicken or fish, salads, fresh fruit, whole grain breads and soy milk. I can't tell you the last time I stopped for fast food, and I don't even drink soda these days. I love water, and flavor it with MiO zero-calorie flavor drops. I cook all the time. We don't ever order takeout, no pizza is delivered here and we rarely hit the restaurant scene, unless it's a special occasion. At that point, I will check the menu on my phone or laptop to get the calorie content and sodium content of the meals available and make my choice beforehand. I have no problem taking my own salad dressing with me, my own Splenda or Truvia and even my own bread!

An added little bonus -- I no longer take blood pressure meds and no longer have a need for a water pill!

I know how hard it is to do. No one can do it for you. It's like quitting smoking (or so I am told) -- you know when the day comes to start, no one can push you beforehand. The tried and true way still does work!

Current Weight: 104 pounds

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

Check out more of our inspiring weight loss stories below:

Loading Slideshow

• River BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/17/i-lost-weight-river-jack_n_3163443.html" target="_blank">Read River's story here.</a>

• River AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/17/i-lost-weight-river-jack_n_3163443.html" target="_blank">Read River's story here.</a>

• Victoria BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/15/i-lost-weight-victoria-york_n_3155351.html" target="_blank">Read Victoria's story here.</a>

• Victoria AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/15/i-lost-weight-victoria-york_n_3155351.html" target="_blank">Read Victoria's story here.</a>

• Mary BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/13/i-lost-weight-mary-riddle_n_3155621.html" target="_blank">Read Mary's story here.</a>

• Mary AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/13/i-lost-weight-mary-riddle_n_3155621.html" target="_blank">Read Mary's story here.</a>

• Kristina BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/10/i-lost-weight-kristina-davis_n_3139651.html" target="_blank">Read Kristina's story here.</a>

• Kristina AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/10/i-lost-weight-kristina-davis_n_3139651.html" target="_blank">Read Kristina's story here.</a>

• Theresa BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/i-lost-weight-theresa-borawski_n_3061234.html" target="_blank">Read Theresa's story here.</a>

• Theresa AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/i-lost-weight-theresa-borawski_n_3061234.html" target="_blank">Read Theresa's story here.</a>

• Christian BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/06/i-lost-weight-christian-anthony_n_3056324.html" target="_blank">Read Christian's story here.</a>

• Christian AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/06/i-lost-weight-christian-anthony_n_3056324.html" target="_blank">Read Christian's story here.</a>

• Katey BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/i-lost-weight-katey-dyck_n_2973114.html" target="_blank">Read Katey's story here.</a>

• Katey AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/i-lost-weight-katey-dyck_n_2973114.html" target="_blank">Read Katey's story here.</a>

• Tom BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-w-watson/weight-loss-success_b_3117782.html" target="_blank">Read Tom's story here.</a>

• Tom AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-w-watson/weight-loss-success_b_3117782.html" target="_blank">Read Tom's story here.</a>

• Mandi BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/26/i-lost-weight-mandi-toan_n_2972936.html" target="_blank">Read Mandi's story here.</a>

• Mandi AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/26/i-lost-weight-mandi-toan_n_2972936.html" target="_blank">Read Mandi's story here.</a>

• Crystal BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/i-lost-weight-crystal-english_n_2956353.html" target="_blank">Read Crystal's story here.</a>

• Crystal AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/i-lost-weight-crystal-english_n_2956353.html" target="_blank">Read Crystal's story here.</a>

• Leah BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/i-lost-weight-leah-smith_n_2916032.html" target="_blank">Read Leah's story here.</a>

• Leah AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/i-lost-weight-leah-smith_n_2916032.html" target="_blank">Read Leah's story here.</a>

• Vanessa BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/24/i-lost-weight-vanessa-rabb_n_2972663.html" target="_blank">Read Vanessa's story here.</a>

• Vanessa AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/24/i-lost-weight-vanessa-rabb_n_2972663.html" target="_blank">Read Vanessa's story here.</a>

• Teresa BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/17/i-lost-weight-teresa-kidd_n_2907724.html" target="_blank">Read Teresa's story here.</a>

• Teresa AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/17/i-lost-weight-teresa-kidd_n_2907724.html" target="_blank">Read Teresa's story here.</a>

• Jenalee BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/15/i-lost-weight-jenalee-hill_n_2902874.html" target="_blank">Read Jenalee's story here.</a>

• Jenalee AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/15/i-lost-weight-jenalee-hill_n_2902874.html" target="_blank">Read Jenalee's story here.</a>

• Donesha BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/i-lost-weight-donesha-bolden_n_2862429.html" target="_blank">Read Donesha's story here.</a>

• Donesha AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/i-lost-weight-donesha-bolden_n_2862429.html" target="_blank">Read Donesha's story here.</a>

• Melody BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/08/i-lost-weight-melody-regnary_n_2823091.html" target="_blank">Read Melody's story here.</a>

• Melody AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/08/i-lost-weight-melody-regnary_n_2823091.html" target="_blank">Read Melody's story here.</a>

• Courtney BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/05/i-lost-weight-courtney-dyer_n_2819602.html" target="_blank">Read Courtney's story here.</a>

• Courtney AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/05/i-lost-weight-courtney-dyer_n_2819602.html" target="_blank">Read Courtney's story here.</a>

• Stephen BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/01/i-lost-weight-stephen-mariani_n_2813514.html" target="_blank">Read Stephen's story here.</a>

• Stephen AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/01/i-lost-weight-stephen-mariani_n_2813514.html" target="_blank">Read Stephen's story here.</a>

• Robin BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-hoffman/weight-loss-success_b_2910620.html" target="_blank">Read Robin's story here.</a>

• Robin AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-hoffman/weight-loss-success_b_2910620.html" target="_blank">Read Robin's story here.</a>

• Benjamin BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/03/i-lost-weight-benjamin-gerhardt_n_2819453.html" target="_blank">Read Benjamin's story here.</a>

• Benjamin AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/03/i-lost-weight-benjamin-gerhardt_n_2819453.html" target="_blank">Read Benjamin's story here.</a>

• Janne BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/i-lost-weight-janne-mcneill_n_2916306.html" target="_blank">Read Janne's story here.</a>

• Janne AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/i-lost-weight-janne-mcneill_n_2916306.html" target="_blank">Read Janne's story here.</a>

• Brittney BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/i-lost-weight-brittney-s-wheeler_n_2792300.html" target="_blank">Read Brittney's story here.</a>

• Brittney AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/i-lost-weight-brittney-s-wheeler_n_2792300.html" target="_blank">Read Brittney's story here.</a>

• Megan BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/25/i-lost-weight-megan-cooper_n_2813268.html" target="_blank">Read Megan's story here.</a>

• Megan AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/25/i-lost-weight-megan-cooper_n_2813268.html" target="_blank">Read Megan's story here.</a>

• Clara BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/18/i-lost-weight-clara-osborn_n_2765912.html" target="_blank">Read Clara's story here.</a>

• Clara AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/18/i-lost-weight-clara-osborn_n_2765912.html" target="_blank">Read Clara's story here.</a>

• Lee BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/15/i-lost-weight-dr-lee-coleman-jr_n_2765622.html" target="_blank">Read Lee's story here.</a>

• Lee AFTER

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/15/i-lost-weight-dr-lee-coleman-jr_n_2765622.html" target="_blank">Read Lee's story here.</a>

• Debbie BEFORE

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/20/i-lost-weight-debbie-lazinsky_n_2768877.html" target="_blank">Read Debbie's story here.</a>

For more on weight loss, click here.

*Asked that her last name not be used.

From our partners

• 39 Deliciously Unexpected Healthy Avocado Recipes - Greatist
• 8 Great Running Apps To Help You Train For Your Next Race - Shape Magazine
• 6 Reasons To Sleep At Least 7 Hours - Everyday Health

Comments

[ConfuciusSay-]

07:09 PM on 01/02/2013

Maybe the choice of pictures is to blame, but Jennifer looks happier before...?

[titanwo]

05:39 AM on 10/10/2012

Jennifer u did a great job losing weight. But I have a ? Why don't u have a pic of u w/a huge smile showing your teeth? Your first pic shows u have beautiful white teeth.
I love your story. Thank u 4 sharing.

[terryleyaya]

12:33 PM on 09/15/2012

Jennifer you are gorgeous and boy have you accomplished an almost impossible goal. I've known maybe a few and I met them through the gym. They just glow and I know you do too. I know you've been getting a lot of back lash on here so I started out an investigation on how much is too much to loose. I saw post that even 99 lbs was normal. There were so many variations. The point come down to what feels good on you and is your energy level where it needs to be? Best one of all I saw was for women 5' 100 lbs and 5 lbs for every inch over. that would put you at 110. You've got room to play on the weekends. Don't change a think but remember you have room to play around a little bit. Congrats to YOU!!

[wenderwoman]

03:39 PM on 09/03/2012

I don't know, to me she doesn't look healthy. I think she lost too much weight. Gaining 10 to 15lb would look better on her. Her weight loss really aged her.

[Kitty Russel-Dillion]

10:24 AM on 10/16/2012

Here comes the crowd...She looks great!

[sixbluntsdeep]

08:48 PM on 08/19/2012

Sounds like someone developed an eating disorder.

[sweetpatriot]

08:11 PM on 08/19/2012

Congrats to her

[thenewgirl]

06:06 PM on 08/19/2012

Congratulations on your success, but I don't think being a size 00 is something to brag about.....that's UNDERweight

[sweetpatriot]

08:10 PM on 08/19/2012

Jealous much?

[thenewgirl]

08:14 PM on 08/19/2012

sometimes, but not of that

[Fortune27]

11:44 PM on 08/19/2012

But she's 5'2"! That size doesn't seem totally unreasonable for someone so tiny.

[youpplrnuts]

12:20 PM on 08/19/2012

BS........walking does not make you lose weight. I been walking 3 miles every day and only lost 6 lbs, because I gave up sugar.

[Lillian -]

03:15 PM on 08/19/2012

And I say it's B.S. that you're walking 3 miles every day and have only lost six pounds.

[youpplrnuts]

05:44 PM on 08/19/2012

No it's not BS. I walked 3 miles all ready today.

[mm1970]

01:04 AM on 08/20/2012

Seriously it's not. It's all about the food. I trained for a three day walk and walked 1000 miles in a year, and finished the year at the same weight as I started, 172 lbs. I didnt lose weight until I changed my diet.

[Fortune27]

11:45 PM on 08/19/2012

So, are you "stroll walking" ot "cardio walking"? It can make a difference.

[ConfuciusSay-]

07:02 PM on 01/02/2013

Work = force x distance
i.e. Caloric expenditure is not dependent on the speed of the exercise, if the same distance is covered the work done is the same.

The outcome is said to vary if HIIT regimens are used though: there is a higher percentage of fat used despite lower calorie burns.

No matter what exercise is done, it is all too easy to offset the expenditure with just a couple cookies. Without an honest attempt to eat properly, or at least eat under the calorie expenditure( even on a Twinkie Diet) we end up not making any headway.

[NotMyBirthday21]

12:17 PM on 08/19/2012

I thought being a size 0 was not a good thing? I'm all for losing weight but losing so much weight that you become a size 0, is not what I had in mind. Models who are size 0 are even banned now in certain countries.

[Lillian -]

03:16 PM on 08/19/2012

No, they go on body fat percentages. If the woman who wrote this story has the correct body fat percentage, then perhaps her frame really is that small. I find it hard to believe, too, but it is possible.

[Mirabai305]

05:25 PM on 08/19/2012

A person as short as her with very small bone structure could conceivably be 104 pounds. From her after picture, I would hazard a guess that she might benefit from adding 5, but if she likes it, it's her call. It doesn't sound like she's undereating.

[April Pells]

08:25 AM on 08/19/2012

Congratulations with an asterisk. I'm happy for you, but I wonder if you've traded one bad habit for another. Eating well and working out is great, but you're down to a 00 size and you consume things like Splenda. Sounds like you could be a size 2 and eat real sugar occasionally. To each their own, and I hope you enjoy your new body.

[Tazette]

07:19 AM on 08/19/2012

104 is too skinny for being 5'2. I went from 185 to 104 size 0 and everyone said I looked like a skeleton. I maintain 117lbs now, look healthier and still eat pizza and fast food in moderation.

[henry1964]

06:32 AM on 08/19/2012

She looks good but she needs to stay out of the sun......in that respect she looks better before.....but ya got to hand it to her

[STaR Scream 81]

04:12 AM on 08/19/2012

Ladies, you're better off having a few extra pounds than ingesting "diet" or "low calorie" or "sugar free" foods. The garbage they use to modify those foods like Splenda and Nutrasweet is horrible for your health. Yes, theres going to be some wacko's who disagree because the FDA approves it and blah blah blah. The FDA also allowed the release of YAZ, Gardasil, and many other substances that have had very negative effects on our health. The key to weight loss and being healthy is easy. 1. Exercise 2. Drink 10 glasses of water a day and before meals NUMBER 1...Have a clean colon. You should go everyday, even multiple times a day, thats normal. If you're not, then you will not lose weight and be unhealthy. You'll also absorb nutrition better for a stronger body. Its very simple.

[ConfuciusSay-]

07:07 PM on 01/02/2013

I agree with you on the substitute sweeteners. Why can't we just eat actual foods and be healthy?

Bowel habits vary very widely. It can be normal for a person to occasionally skip a day. But I'd rather have a clean colon myself :-)

The 10 glasses of water myth has long been debunked, but if a person is exercising vigorously in hot weather, it can take even MORE water than that to offset the losses.

[messaiiina]

01:56 AM on 08/19/2012

Quitting smoking is easier. When you quit smoking, you just quit. No more smoking, but you have to eat something and eating just enough and stopping is much harder than if you could just stop all together, which of course, you can't.

[elatas]

12:14 PM on 11/18/2012

Depends. I was a heavy smoker 1-1/2 pack a day. That's one cigarette every 20 minutes. When you look at it, I'd pick up a cigarette more often than I would eat. I fact, I ate only once a day because smoking decreases appetite. When I quit, I started to eat 3x a day and gained 25 pounds. I waited a year to try and lose it. One fight at a time I figured. For me, stopping smoking was very difficult. After 3 weeks, I got pneumonia with a collapsed lung. So that helped me stay on course since I could barely breathe. I would wake up at nights as I dreamt that I was having a smoke. That lasted of and on for 2 years. Six months after quitting, I had bronchitis. I figured my body was ridding itself of all the toxins. I was never sick afterwards whereas I had chronic laryngitis and ear infections before. Nowadays, I do have problems keeping my weight down but that's because I'm an emotional eater. But to say that stopping smoking is easier, I would say to you: Absolutely not!! Even if it's been 20 years since I quit, I avoid people who smoke. I still feel that if I have only one, I would be hooked right away.

[elatas]

12:19 PM on 11/18/2012

I should add that I was successful at losing the 25 pounds and kept my weight down until the last 5 years.

[pslcitizen]

01:47 AM on 08/19/2012

Great job Jennifer!