People Magazine's Summer Slim-Down Special: How One Woman Got Her Confidence Back

Michelle Mohr thought losing weight was impossible. "I remember sitting on the couch and bawling, 'I'm never going to be thin!'" she told People magazine,

It's a feeling we hear all too often from readers who share with us their stories of weight loss success. Whether it's due to non-existant exercise habits, a lack of nutritional guidance, a serious health issue or other concerns, extra weight can make a healthy lifestyle seem like nothing more than a dream.

But Mohr, 27, and the four other people profiled in People's Summer Slim-Down Special, are proof that it can be a reality. She told the magazine she would eat pizza, fries and nachos for lunch at school, and two plates of spaghetti for dinner -- after having a family-sized box of stuffing as a snack. Today, she's 100 pounds lighter, with the help of magazines and online videos to learn about healthy living. "I love having confidence," she said.

Now, nachos are off the menu. A typical day of healthy eating looks like this, Mohr told People:

Breakfast: 2 scrambled egg whites, 1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese, an apple, a slice of toast and nine almonds
Lunch: Salad with chicken, chickpeas, mushrooms, celery and tomato
Snack: String cheese and 1/2 cup grapes
Dinner: Grilled chicken with zucchini and half a sweet potato
Dessert: Sugar-free fudge pop

Read the rest of Michelle's story -- and the other four weight loss success stories -- on People.com, or in the issue on newsstands now.

After photo by Perry Hagopian for People

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Comments

[antifraudya]

05:52 PM on 12/31/2012

Congratulations on losing the weight! Hard work to be sure. I doubt she'll keep it off though. It was fun for a while, but who wants to live that way their entire life?

[Seattle Noir]

02:56 PM on 08/24/2012

Congrats to anyone who gets rid of the weight they gained, I do question however what is with the low self-esteem? Even when I was fat I absolutely loved myself and was still an outgoing and likeable person. My esteem did not go down, I didn't like what I did to my body but I never hated myself!

[Dianekkdi]

01:36 AM on 08/24/2012

Greens, greens, and greens.

:)

[NotMyBirthday21]

11:58 AM on 08/23/2012

Only way to get confidence is to become skinny.

[juicybrisket]

10:37 PM on 08/23/2012

um.....no.

[Renee21]

07:27 AM on 08/23/2012

Ugh, typically "dieter's" diet. Low fat everything, fake dessert. I'm betting she'll gain it all back pretty quick. Eat PALEO - lots of real meat and fish, fat, veg and fruit. Bacon! Ribeye! Just cut out the grains and sugar. Insanely satisfying, much healthier for you and more sustainable in the long run.

[Tony Twohill]

02:47 PM on 08/23/2012

She was getting the healthy fat that she needed.
She should be fine if she keeps eating a high veg low meat fat diet.
That is to say if she sticks to her diet and turns it into a lifestyle.

[SigonellaPC3]

12:48 AM on 08/23/2012

I have what you'd consider an overweight cat and one that is not overweight. Their diet and intake is identical.

Obesity is an excuse for the nutrition industry to sell you a mirage, with the assumption you should hate your image.

Healthy is good. Movement is good. Start there. Enough of the picture/visual results. Enhance your soul with energy and love yourself for god's sake!

[Pulchritudinous]

12:35 AM on 08/23/2012

What I don't understand is what happens to the extra skin? Sometimes the after photo just doesn't make sense. Do all of these people get plastic surgery? As a woman, even losing 20 pounds will leave some negative externalities.

[abinc]

10:22 PM on 08/22/2012

How incredibly inspirational! Appearance is so much better and the health of the dieters undoubtedly improved. This sequence should go viral. I hope it helps others who are obese and suffering from various weight-related ills.

[Soul Dancer]

06:07 PM on 08/22/2012

I retired 115 pounds back in 2004 (retired versus lost since my retired pounds will never find me).

Congrats to all who take steps to get healthy! Well worth it. I'm happy to help anyone who needs support - based on first-hand experience.

[Chump Lady]

03:03 PM on 08/22/2012

Does anyone else find her diet bizarre? I'm all for losing weight and eating healthy but non-food food-like products weird me out. Egg whites? Non-fat cottage cheese? Sugar free fudge pop? All that crap is food additives and processing. Eat a natural diet with FAT. Just eat less of it, and more green stuff.

Also, it seems pretty grim. Nine almonds. Like eating disorder grim. Discipline is great, but that diet looks somewhere around 1200 calories, which is really, really very little. Not something that looks maintainable. She should split the difference and lose 50 and eat like a normal, healthy person.

[destin293]

04:36 PM on 08/22/2012

How are egg whites a food-like product? It's very easy to crack open an egg, separate it, and toss the yolks. Non-fat dairy is recommended for adults trying to lose body fat as you are still obtaining the nutrition that comes along with dairy, but not having the additional fat added to the diet. Nine almonds is a good serving. Almonds are very good for you and give you a good boost of energy -- however, they are also high in fat (as are most nuts). Cramming a handful of 20 almonds in your mouth is equal to about 210 calories (1/4 cup), and 160 of those calories are fat. Nine almonds cuts it down to about 105 calories...in addition to the 70 calories for the apple, 40 in the eggs, 80 for toast, and 80 for the cottage cheese. That equals about 375 calories for breakfast.

[Chump Lady]

05:29 PM on 08/22/2012

Read Nina Planck's Real Food. Read Michael Pollan. Check out the Weston Price Foundation on traditional diets of non-processed foodshttp://www.westonaprice.org/basics/principles-of-healthy-diets#characteristics

"Non" fat food is hugely processed as are Eggbeaters, yes you can separate eggs, but why would you want to? That's where all the nutrients are.
If you eat a nutrient rich diet, you don't have the same sorts of hunger cravings and poor health. Lots of science behind that. What's behind non-fat processed food-like substances? Multinational corporations and industrial ag. 

[juicybrisket]

10:38 PM on 08/23/2012

egg whites are part of an egg. that is real food.

[scarletrose]

02:21 PM on 08/22/2012

Congrats Michelle, you look fabulous!

[kel]

01:53 PM on 08/22/2012

Michelle:

I bought People this week because you looked great on the cover. I need to lose at least 50 pounds (And have done this before) but I am mentally ready. Thanks for inspiring me.

[Alwaysbaffled]

05:53 AM on 08/22/2012

I thought she was pretty before she started. As I get older I kinda like the look.

[hoosierladyus48]

04:36 AM on 08/22/2012

Michelle, keep up the good work. You look AMAZING!!

[The Late Benny Hill]

03:22 AM on 08/22/2012

Whether you think you can or cannot do something, you are correct.