I Lost Weight: Holly White Committed To Nutritious Eating And Lost Over 100 Pounds

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Name: Holly White
Age: 25
Height: 5'4"
Before Weight: 275 pounds

How I Gained it: When I was in college, I started eating out a lot at lunch, mostly at fast food restaurants because it was easy to grab a burger between classes. The habit of eating burgers and fries every day stuck with me even after college was over; I continued to eat unhealthy meals when I started working, as well. I would get fast food three to four times a week. I wasn't eating enough fruits and veggies at the time, either. I would always go for the quick snacks like chips and candy, I didn't control my portion sizes and I didn't get enough exercise in my daily routine.

Breaking Point: I couldn't stand having my picture taken because of the way I looked in photographs. I also got tired of going to the store and seeing all of the really cute outfits that I loved but couldn't wear. It just really hit me one day that unless I made up my mind to do something about my weight, things would never change.

How I Lost It: I started Weight Watchers again (a few years before, I had actually lost about 30 pounds on the program, but I didn't stick with it), and I started exercising every day. Exercising is definitely not the easiest or most fun thing when you first get started, but I knew it was something I needed to do in order to lose weight and get healthy. I started off by walking about 25 to 30 minutes each afternoon for about a week or so. Then, I just started working my time up and switching off between the treadmill and bicycle. I would walk outside sometimes, if the weather permitted. Once the weight started coming off, I was more motivated to exercise and continue losing. Now I walk, jog or bicycle around three to four miles every afternoon and I really enjoy it. I just don't feel right if I don't do some type of exercise now!

I also make healthier food choices; instead of eating a 100-calorie chocolate snack (even though it may only be a couple of WW points), I go for lots of fruit and veggies because they're a lot better for me in the long run. I have become addicted to peaches and watermelon!

I think being older and more mature helped me to realize that my weight was very unhealthy and that I needed to do something about it now, not put it off until later. Everyone at work and my family was very supportive and really encouraged me the entire time, which I think is a really important thing. When someone is trying to lose weight, hearing the occasional "How much have you lost now?" or "You're doing great, keep it up!" is really motivating and helps keep you going even on those rough days!

I definitely feel better about myself, both mentally and physically. And I can wear some of those cute outfits now!

After Weight: 173 pounds

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

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Comments

[MJ analytics]

01:16 PM on 10/08/2012

Congratulations on your weight loss and healthy lifestyle! I agree that simple positive remarks and comments from others can really motivate. That has helped me so much in my ongoing journey to become #FitBy40. Thank you for sharing your story.

[TARZAN997]

03:18 PM on 10/07/2012

Put all the fatties in somewhere like Auswitch, and lests see how many put on weight. NOBODY CAME OUT OF THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS 'FAT'. Just STOP pushing it in your mouth - discpline is all that's needed. I see hundreds of fatties in supermarkets with their trolly's loaded up with 'FULL FATTENING FOOD'. Just wait until rationing is reintroduced to this country of greedy-fat-peoople. And there will come a time when doctors will and should refuse to treat obese people.

[TARZAN997]

03:04 PM on 10/07/2012

What's the point?????????????

[garboop2]

09:09 AM on 10/18/2012

Please, don't use "God's" name just because you want to slam someone for a job well done. You sound like a narcassist to me (taking pleasure in putting others down, while building yourself up." You have no clue what may have gone on in each one of these indivijual's lives before their wt loss. Could have been multiple forms of abuse, lack of belief in self, some may have been homeless for a pd of time. Could have been sudden, shocking death in a family. Tarzan997, last I knew God was still existant-He is the only one to judge others harshly, or otherwise. Even if you don't believe in Him; you should be able to see the possibilities I mentioned. I hop others give you a more forgiving heart, than what you give them. The point; you asked? The was, you didn't even have to read about this. The point is; if it's so repulsiver why did you read it at all? You knew from the get-go what the story was about. Maybe the "real point" is, you need to find an empathetic human inside of your heart.

[sweetpatriot]

08:26 PM on 10/03/2012

One hour and 15 minutes everyday.I love it

[junenorris]

03:41 PM on 10/03/2012

well done you look stunning.

[konfusion]

10:46 AM on 10/03/2012

Congratulations! Such a fantastic achievement. :)

[Edwin Keever Jr]

10:00 AM on 10/03/2012

To lose weight all you have to do is drink diet coke and you can eat what ever you want, as much as you want, when ever you want! In reality if you don't have any physical or mental peoblems that are keeping you from losing weight then it is all up to you. If you want to be FAT then go ahead and be FAT. If you eat proper and exercise proper and don't worry about losing weight, just stick with the program the weight will come off. It is that simple. The girl in this article is proof of that.

[SGillLondonUK]

07:15 PM on 10/04/2012

Diet coke will rot your teeth. I have never been overweight, but in addition to the obvious health benefits, its also worth mentioning that being fat is not attractive. I think what is shown on the picture is that some of the people are really quite good looking when they lose the weight.

[Edwin Keever Jr]

07:57 PM on 10/04/2012

Now I just drink diet coke on the weekends and every other Friday when I give platlets, my teerh are fine. I was overweight by only a few pounds for years and then I ended up being 30 pounds overweight, I looked horrible. I changed the way I eat and what I eat and kicked it up several notches with my exercise and the problem is solved. I've lost 30 pounds in 3 months.

[gingerb15]

10:00 PM on 10/02/2012

Congratulations Holly! You're on your way to a healthy and beautiful person (you're already beautiful!)

[SAMBURTON13]

09:07 PM on 10/02/2012

Send me ten bucks and I will give you my weight loss program easy to follow and i guarantee you will lose 100 pounds in 3 months.

[DennisTheMenance]

05:39 PM on 10/02/2012

I lost 55 lbs, but Still Kept Eating at McD's..
But Single Burgers and Double Burgers, But WITHOUT THE BUNS!
Add a SIDE SALAD
And a Sugar Free Ice Tea with Splenda..

JUST DON"T EAT THE BUNS! That is were all the Carbs and Calories are !

[Charming Handle]

07:54 AM on 10/03/2012

Please remember that McDonald's adds sugar and additives to their meat to make it addictive and delicious (which totally works, it's delicious). And that Splenda is still made from sugar alcohols and that diet soda is still treated as sugar in your body. A friend of mine was on the tipping point of diabetes and the only "sugar" he had in his diet was Diet Coke. To be fair, it was a lot of Diet Coke, but it really woke me up to that reality!

I don't mean to discourage your weight loss, I think it's awesome that you have gotten this far!

[Edwin Keever Jr]

09:30 AM on 10/03/2012

I agree with you on the Diet Coke. Now Burger King has a new soda michine that gives you a choice of close to 150 differenf flavors. That was starting to become a problem with me. Now I only drink soda on a Saturday or a Sunday maybe.

[SGillLondonUK]

07:18 PM on 10/04/2012

Sugar free ice tea and most diet drinks are bad for your teeth have an acidity level that could give you stomach ulcers. I have never been overweight myself, but all this talk of "carbs/proteins" is just media hype. Surely the key to all this is that its about being healthy and eating a balanced diet, with lots and lots of exercise. Red meat, is one of the worst things anyone can eat, if it doesn't clog your arteries, it will probably give you cancer.

[Dee Pittsburgh]

05:34 PM on 10/02/2012

Holly is is sad that you had to lose over 100 lbs. I hope everyone reading your story will do something before the numbers get that high. When I was told I was borderline diabetic I was shocked. I also knew I had to lose some weight. I started walking more, eating less and I am close to goal now and no longer borderline anything.Glad you realized that your health would be in danger at that level of excess weight.

[ferbfan1998]

04:31 PM on 10/02/2012

congratulations! Keep i up. You look so much better.

[CJ McD]

04:27 PM on 10/02/2012

You go girl!

[mmbcoach]

03:51 PM on 10/02/2012

You looks very excellent and keep up the tranformations. It will get better and more beauiful as you change your life to excersice dailys. Great and do not forget to eat vegetables and fruits daily with water everyday. Thanks and keep getting younger every day!!

[Jackee1054]

04:48 PM on 10/02/2012

I'm sorry....huh??

[ZenSufi]

06:10 PM on 10/02/2012

Babel Fish?

[lionstar]

11:22 PM on 10/02/2012

It's not actually a REQUIREMENT to be articulate here, and that person posting probably knows more about english grammar etc. than most people do about any language that is not their "mother" tongue!