By Julie Upton, RD

After my previous “Nutrition Voyeurism” post got so many comments, I knew I should do another one to show you all a little variety. A lot of you have ragged on me about my love of Splenda and all the processed foods in my diet, so I’m curious to hear what else you’ve got to say. I am enrolled in cooking classes now, so if I continue this on a regular basis, you may start to see some more real cooking going on in my life. For now, here’s day two. Go ahead: Tell me how great—or how poorly—I ate today. My nutrition skin is tough.

 

6:30 a.m.
I woke up late today and missed swimming practice. Since I’ve got some extra time, I whip up two poached eggs. Check out the cool silicone poached egg containers I was given by a work colleague! They work like a charm and the eggs look perfect every time.

2 poached eggs (160 calories)
2 slices whole wheat toast (180 calories)
1 tbsp Brummel and Brown spread (45 calories)
2 cups tea with milk (45 calories)
Total: 430 Calories

10:00 a.m.
I am a little hungry, so I eat an apple. Good thing I’m photojournaling my diet today, because I would normally reach for something not so healthy.

1 large apple (115 calories)

 

10:30 a.m.
Now I’m thirsty, so I enjoy a tiny can of Diet Pepsi. Yes, I definitely have a diet soda weakness and have one just about every day. While I’m in the kitchen, I take a handful of granola cereal as well.

1 Diet Pepsi (0 calories)
1/4 cup granola (120 calories)

12: 30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
I work out with my trainer over lunch today. I’m a pathetic weakling, tired from a busy weekend of trail running and swimming.

 

2:00 p.m.
On the way home from the gym, I stop at Whole Foods and grab a salad from the salad bar. It includes mixed greens, beets, tomatoes, mushrooms, slivered almonds, crumbled feta cheese, carrots, and a topping of mayo-heavy tuna salad. This is a perfect example of how salads can wreak havoc on a calorie-controlled diet: If you add in toppings that are calorie-rich—like cheese and mayo-laden tuna or egg salads—the salad’s only redeeming quality is that it helps you get some vegetables in your diet.

Salad (450 calories)
Olive oil and vinegar as dressing (120 calories)
Total: 570 calories

 

4:00 p.m.
I’m a little bored from work, so I head to the kitchen. I notice a bag of opened rice chips. I wolf down a bowl in no time. I like them so much, I can’t resist eating more, although I am not even hungry. This is a problem; I need to put these chips out of sight. I’m also thirsty again, and I have my second Diet Pepsi of the day.

2 oz Lundberg Rice Chips (300 calories)
1 Diet Pepsi (0 Calories)

 

6:00 p.m.
I pick up a roasted chicken at the supermarket because I had to work late and didn’t have time to cook anything. I pair it with a butternut squash and wild rice casserole that I made yesterday.

3–4 oz roasted chicken (180 calories)
1 cup squash, dried fruit, and rice casserole (200 calories)
2 Le Petit Ecolier Dark Chocolate Cookies (130 calories)
1 cup tea with milk (25 calories)

Total: 535

Total for day: 2,070 calories

Again, since I did a one-hour weight workout today, this is a fairly good calorie amount for me. I’m sure it is a bit of an underestimation, as my servings could have easily been more than what I’m thinking they are, and I’m not using measuring cups to be precise. What I know my day did lack was fresh fruit. What else do you think? Until next time, I look forward to your thoughts. Oh, and since it’s American Heart Month, check out my 28 days of heart-healthy tips on Health.com’s Healthy Living channel.

Istockphoto

 By Kate Stinchfield

TUESDAY, Dec. 9, 2008 (Health.com) — Want to shed some pounds? You’re more likely to be successful if you stand to gain—or lose—some money.

In a new study, overweight or obese dieters who were trying to shed weight lost 13 to 14 pounds in four months if they stood to win or lose a bit of money. The dieters who had no motivation—other than to look better and feel healthier—lost only about 4 pounds.

However, the results were less dramatic after seven months. The cash-incentive group regained weight, for a total 6- to 9-pound weight loss, compared to 4.4 pounds in those who did not have money at stake, according to the study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, one of the study’s authors and the director of the Center for Health Incentives at the Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics, in Philadelphia, says providing a small financial incentive helped people forget what they were giving up—fatty fare like burgers and fries, rich desserts, or alcohol.

This mix of frequent rewards, both large and small, helped dieters to stay on track—and on the scale. “It was a tangible reminder for why they are changing their behavior,” Dr. Volpp says.

The study included 57 people ages 30 to 70—almost all men—who were overweight or obese. One group contributed between $0.01 and $3 to a fund each day, which was matched by researchers. If they met their weight-loss goal, the money was refunded at the end of the month. A second group had no financial incentive, and a third group qualified for daily $3 prizes, plus less frequent $10 to $100 prizes, if they lost weight.

Next: Some experts aren’t convinced

Some experts aren’t convinced that a rewards program is enough to sustain both weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.

“First off, this certainly doesn’t address having people lose weight in a healthy manner,” says Samantha Heller, RD, the host of Doctor Radio and a contributor to Health magazine. “You can lose weight eating only hot dogs, but that’s not healthy.”

Also, what happens when the reward system is removed? If individuals don’t have the right education in place, Heller says, they’re apt to fall back on their bad ways.

“Nutrition is one of the toughest behavior changes to make because it’s very emotional,” she says. “People’s relationships with food can be very complicated.”

Heller also says the results may not apply to all dieters, citing the small study group and the fact that about 95% of the participants were male.

Dr. Volpp says he has no reason to believe that women would have a tougher time with a rewards-based program than men. However, the researchers did find that black dieters (with an average weight loss of 4.2 pounds) seemed to have a harder time losing weight than white dieters (with an average of 14.7 pounds).

At least in the short term, financial rewards can provide strong incentive to ditch bad habits, says Dr. Volpp. And weight-loss programs don’t have to be expensive, even if they’re offering financial rewards.

Next: Is paying people to lose weight cheaper in the long run?

In the study, participants had a one-on-one session, in which they discussed diet and exercise strategies, with a dietitian, and then were on their own. They didn’t have a strict meal plan or detailed exercise routine, and devised their own slim-down plan. Text messages were used to clue in participants regarding their progress.

If they didn’t shed weight, they got a second chance. Lagging participants were given a fresh start each month, plus a chance to win their money back if they did better. Those who exceeded their goals could lose weight at a slower rate.

The second chance for lagging dieters seemed to be a good motivator. Participants were sent a text-message reminder of what they would have won had they shed the weight, which did spur some to take their diet up a notch.

The system could make sense for insurance companies and workplace weight-loss programs, says Dr. Volpp. Text messages are cheaper than a personal trainer.

“A large percentage of people have employer-based or categorical insurance, and there are no tangible incentives for them to get healthy,” says Dr. Volpp.

Obesity is expensive: An April 2008 report from the Conference Board found that obese employees cost businesses an estimated $45 billion a year for medical expenditures and work loss. If all overweight employees had financial incentives to shed weight, businesses might find both their workers and their bank accounts healthier.

With the economy sinking and waistlines swelling, some experts argue that an incentive-based approach to health care could help businesses with their budget while simultaneously putting a little cash back into employees’ pockets.

“It’s very easy to keep procrastinating when it comes to behavior changes,” says Dr. Volpp. “But this gives you a tangible reason not to procrastinate any longer.”

---

Related Links:

 In Weight Loss, Accountability Is Essential

 The “Real” Weight-Loss Numbers

 Researchers Connect Eggs and Weight Loss

Ericka McConnell

By Shaun Chavis
From Health magazine
The most basic way to lose weight is to slash calories. That’s Diet 101. But how many do you really have to cut or burn to see results? It’s simple: You can drop a pound a week by trimming 500 calories each day. (Calories burned are based on a 150-pound woman.)

In fact, do a couple of swaps a day and you can drop 10 pounds in 5 weeks! So try these 50 easy tweaks—and get the slim body you want in no time.

1. Shake your groove thing. Dance for just 2 hours and torch 500 calories. (A little air guitar will burn a few extra calories, too.)

2. Get enough sleep. A lack of shut-eye can make you snack, new research from the University of Chicago shows. People who got only 5 1/2 hours of sleep noshed more during the day. Snooze more and save about 1,087 calories.

3. Don’t eat in front of the TV. You’ll eat up to 288 calories more, according to research from the University of Massachusetts. Instead, eat at the table, and trade 1 hour of TV for a casual walk. Together, that’s 527 calories burned.

4. Get in tune with your tummy. Pay attention to how full you feel, and put down your fork when you’re satisfied. Listen to your body’s cues—instead of looking at whether the plate is clean—and save up to 500 calories a day.

5. Limit dinner guests. Eating with seven or more other guests can make you eat 96% more food, says Brian Wansink, PhD, author of Mindless Eating. That’s like doubling your dinner! Dine with fewer guests to save 500 or more calories.

Istockphoto

Slim your habits

6. Simple tricks to fill up (with less!). For breakfast, eat 2 boiled or poached eggs. (You’ll feel fuller and eat about 416 fewer calories the rest of the day.) Before lunch and dinner, enjoy 1 cup low-cal soup. (You’ll eat about 134 calories less at each meal.) And save a total of 684 calories for the day.

7. Limit salad toppings. A big salad might seem healthy, but all those goodies on top can make it more calorie-laden than lasagna or fettuccine Alfredo. Cheese crumbles, caramelized nuts, bacon, avocado, dried fruit, croutons, and vinaigrettes can add lots of calories. Save 500 or more calories by having just one topping, adding flavorful but lower-cal veggies (roasted bell peppers, grilled onions, or mushrooms), and using half the dressing.

8. Don’t clean your plate. Leave 25% of your food on the plate at every meal, says weight-loss expert James O. Hill, PhD, author of The Step Diet. If you normally eat 2,000 calories or more each day, you’ll cut 500 calories.

9. Use smaller plates. Swap your 12-inch plate for a 10-inch one. You’ll eat 20 to 25% less—and save up to 500 calories. You won’t feel any less full, either, researchers say.

10. Serve and sit. Family-style meals, with platters and bowls of food on the table, invite people to go back for seconds and thirds. Cut hundreds of calories by filling plates before bringing them to the table; leave serving dishes in the kitchen, too.

11. Make a swap. Use 1 cup plain fat-free yogurt instead of 1 cup heavy cream in a favorite baking recipe. Save 684 calories.

Ericka McConnell

Lighten treats

12. Make mine a mini. Check out menus for small versions of great desserts, so you can dodge calo­ries and end your meal on a sweet note. P.F. Chang’s Great Wall of Chocolate (designed for one diner!) is 1,440 calories. The Mini Great Wall? A chocolatey yet svelte 150 calories. You’ll save 1,290-calories.

13. Ditch that buttered movie popcorn. Yes, the large popcorn at the concession stand weighs in at a whopping 1,005 calories. Smuggle in your own (microwave-popped, 94% fat-free, of course) and save more than 700 calories.

14. Count your chips (and crackers). No, you can’t eat your snacks from a large bag or box because it’s waaaay too tempting to eat until the bag is empty. (Remember Oprah’s blue corn–tortilla chip confession?) A chip-bender to the bottom of a 9-ounce bag is 1,260 calories sans the dip. So stick to 1 serving, about 15 chips—that’s 140 calories—or pick up some 100-calorie snack packs and save 1,120 calories.

15. Step away from the nuts, especially if they’re in a big bowl. The bigger the serving bowl, the more you’ll eat, Cornell University researchers say. Nuts have heart-healthy fats, but they’re also high in calories: 1 handful (about 1 ounce) of oil-roasted mixed nuts has 175 calories; 3 handfuls have 525. Cut out nuts altogether and save more than 500 calories. Can’t resist ’em? Eat pistachios: 2 handfuls are just 159 calories, and the shelling will slow down your munching.

Istockphoto

Slim down your drinks

16. Skip the whip—or at least size it down. Dessert-like coffee creations can contain as many as 670 calories, with large sizes and options like whipped cream, whole milk, and syrups. Craving whipped cream? Try it on a shot of espresso for a total of just 30 calories. You save 640 calories!

17. Kick the soda habit. A 12-ounce soft drink has about 150 to 180 calories. If you down two or three a day, you’re getting lots of extra calories. Quench your thirst with water and save as many as 540 calories.

18. Drink sugar-free. A 20-ounce tea with added fruit juices can have 400-plus calories. And Southern-style sweet tea isn’t much better than soda: a 16-ounce bottle of syrupy sweet tea has 180 calories; three of those are 540 calories. Choose sugar-free sips and save more than 400 calories.

19. Skinny up cocktails. Syrups, sour mix, sugary fruit juices, and creamy additions turn drinks into desserts: an indulgent Mudslide can have more than 800 calories. Order drinks mixed with club soda, tonic water, cranberry juice, or a squeeze of citrus; or try distilled liquors on the rocks. You’ll save up to 800 calories.

Ericka McConnell

Eat out smarter

20. Eat less pasta. One cup of pasta is just 220 calories. But typical dinner portions at restaurants can be as much as 480% larger than that 1 cup, according to New York University research. That’s 1,056 calories. Even if you eat 2 whole cups of noodles, you’ll still save 616 calories.

21. Get out your knitting needles. An afternoon of knitting can burn more than 500 calories (at a rate of about 100 an hour).

22. Clean house. Tidy up for 2 1/2 hours and burn 510 calories.

23. Check the number of servings in a dish. The calorie count on the menu for Shrimp Fried Rice may say 350 calories per serving, but what’s set in front of you may actually contain 4 servings. Split it with three friends, and save 1,050 calories.

24. Beware the healthy-food trap. People let their guard down when the menu is full of healthy fare, underestimating calories by as much as 35%, research by the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab shows. You’re also more likely to order drinks, sides, and desserts with up to 131% more calories when you have a healthy entrée. Skip caloric sides—a cookie, chips—to save 500-plus calories.

25. Build a lean burrito—and you’ll save 630 calories.

Ericka McConnell

26. Think small at the ice cream shop. Even if you indulge in your favorite full-fat flavor, you’ll save as many as 550 calories with a 5-ounce size instead of a 12-ounce.

27. Think thin when it comes to pizza. Eat 2 slices of a medium thin-crust veggie pizza (360 calories) instead of 2 slices of a large, meaty deep-dish pizza (940 calories) and save 580 calories.

28. Beware hidden oils. Ask to have your food cooked with a little stock instead of oil, or order steamed or poached entrées: you’ll save 124 calories per tablespoon of oil. Also, have the kitchen skip oils added at the last minute like basil oil or chive oil, and save another 40 calories per teaspoon.

Istockphoto

29. Order spaghetti with meat sauce instead of spaghetti with Italian sausage and save 560 calories. Even better: Order mushroom ravioli (670 calories) or pasta marinara (430 calories).

30. Nix that smoothie a day. A large 32-ounce smoothie can have 800 or more calories. That really adds up if you’re having on-the-go breakfast several times a week. Instead, try a filling lower-calorie starter of oatmeal with brown sugar and banana slices, and a cup of black coffee. You’ll save 518 calories.

Ericka McConnell

Move this way

31. Help a friend move. You’ll burn more than 600 calories in 1 hour of carrying boxes and furniture up and down the stairs.

32. Shovel snow. Clearing the driveway and sidewalks for 1 hour and 15 minutes will torch 510 calories.

33. Ice-skate for 1 hour and 5 minutes and burn 516 calories. (Or go inline skating and slash 562.)

34. Tap your foot. Your skinnier friends are probably fidgeters, who burn up to 350 calories a day just by tapping their feet or being restless. Try it for a few days. Walk around while you’re on the phone, or tap out a tune with your hands or feet (in the privacy of your own office, of course).

35. Be the hostess with the mostest. Go grocery shopping for 1 hour, put away your groceries, spend 2 hours cooking a fabulous holiday feast, set the table, and serve. Then toast yourself for the awesome 640 calorie-burn. (A glass of Champagne is only about 106 calories, so you’re still ahead.)

36. Go window-shopping. Whether you buy anything or not, an afternoon of walking around and trying on clothes can torch 548 calories.

37. Hit the pool. Do 1 hour of laps or 55 minutes of jogging in the water to burn 500 calories.

38. Stroll your way slim. Spend an afternoon pushing junior from the giraffes to the sea lions at the zoo (or around the aquarium or museum) and burn 523 calories.

39. Head to a county fair or amusement park. You’ll slash 612 calories in 3 hours from the casual walking and standing in lines. (Subtract 105 calories if you have cotton candy.)

40. Play a game of touch football or basketball with your kids for 1 hour and burn 500 calories.

41. Head for the nearest hill. Go sledding with the kiddos for 1 hour and 5 minutes. You’ll burn 500-plus calories.

42. Do an hour of circuit training and you’ll burn 544 calories.

43. Tackle the garage. Clearing out junk for 1 hour and 30 minutes will burn 510 calories.

44. Rake the leaves. Do yard work for 1 hour and 45 minutes and burn 512 calories. (Jumping in the leaf pile won’t hurt, either.)

45. Kickbox. Sign up for kickboxing and burn 510 calories in a 45-minute class.

46. Go cross-country skiing for 1 hour and 5 minutes and sizzle off 516 calories.

47. Exercise at home. Pop in a 1-hour aerobics DVD, and finish with 20 minutes of yoga—500 calories, gone.

48. Walk or run a 10K and you’ll burn up to 680 calories.

49. Go hiking. Just 1 hour and 15 minutes will burn 510 calories.

50. Cut down your own Christmas tree. Hike out, find the perfect tree, cut it, and take it home. Put it up and decorate it for 1 hour to burn 519 calories.

Jenna Jameson is revealing the secrets to her weight-loss!

On Monday, the longtime keto diet advocate, 44, opened up about what she’s been routinely eating to help her lose more than 80 lbs. since giving birth to her daughter Batel Lu in April 2017.

“I have officially lost 80 lbs. . I’m going to give a little updated menu because it’s my most requested thing ever!” she wrote on Instagram alongside a side-by-side photo of herself before and after losing the weight.

RELATED: Jenna Jameson Reveals Her Struggle with Loose Skin After Losing More Than 60 Lbs.

Jameson explained that she starts her mornings off at 8 a.m. with two Nescafé coffees with sugar-free creamer and sweetener. Three hours later, the former adult film star eats her first meal of the day with three scrambled eggs and basil cheese on top.

“I share them with Batelli,” she sweetly added of her daughter’s nickname, before explaining that she’ll usually put Batel down for a nap and snack on cottage cheese and a Fresca.

“From there, Batel wakes up around 3:30 and I make her lunch,” Jameson wrote and joked, “Yes, I make her carbs lol she isn’t keto.”

RELATED: Jenna Jameson Shares Photo of Herself at Her ‘Heaviest’ Post-Baby: ‘I’m So Sorry to My Body’

Jenna Jameson/Instagram

RELATED: Jenna Jameson Is Adding Calories to Her Keto Diet After Hitting Her Goal Weight of 125 Lbs.

Jameson then went into her final meal regimens of the day, which typically includes a large arugula salad with vinaigrette dressing and Parmesan cheese for lunch and a ribeye steak with asparagus for dinner about two hours later.

“Then my fast begins!” she explained. “So many people ask if I count macros or check if I’m in ketosis and the answer is no. I just eat sensibly and intuitively.”

“Also I get asked about ‘snacks’,” Jameson added. “My advice is stop snacking. Results come from work. It’s hard, but baby it’s SO worth it!”

Jenna Jameson/Instagram

To finish her post, the proud mama changed topics and gushed over her 7-month-old daughter.

“Side note- bald Batelli is everything ” referencing the first photo, which features Jameson holding her daughter, whom she shares with fiancé Lior Bittonin, in her arms.

Jenna Jameson/Instagram

RELATED: Jenna Jameson Reveals Exactly What She Ate Every Day to Lose 60 Lbs. After Giving Birth

Jameson previously spoke about her regime in August and explained that she isn’t someone who requires variety in her diet.

“I get a lot of messages asking me what I eat in a day to stay in ketosis. Well, it’s underwhelming,” she wrote. “I am one of those odd people that doesn’t need a variety. Every morning I eat the exact same thing. 3 eggs with cheese and an avocado.”

After giving birth to Batel last year and becoming frustrated with her post-baby body, Jameson started the keto diet — short for ketogenic — which is a very low-carb, moderate protein and high-fat eating plan.

Jenna Jameson/Instagram

For the past several months, the star has kept her fans updated on her progress. In July — just four months after she initially started the plan — Jameson revealed she had lost 57 lbs. and shared the transformation to Instagram.

“On the right I weight 187. On the left I’m a strong 130,” she wrote. “I was lethargic and struggled with the easiest of tasks like walking in the beach sand with Batelli. I felt slow mentally and physically.”

“I took the pic on the right for a body positive post I was going to do and decided against it because I felt anything but f—— positive,” she continued. “I’m now a little under four months on the #ketodiet and it’s not only given me physical results, I feel happier, smarter, and much more confident.”

And after four months on the program, Jameson pointed out how her progress has shifted from straight weight loss to toning.

“I’m no longer really losing fat, I’m tightening,” she said. “I see and feel the biggest difference in my arms and back. When I was out of shape, I felt really thick through my core and trap and arm area. That’s finally starting to go. I really feel weight in our arms is a hormonal thing.”

“I can say this to all of you ladies wondering how I stay committed to no carbs. Well, after the first week or so the cravings subside and your body adjusts,” she added before thanking her followers for their support.

“I also want to let y’all know how much your amazing support means to me. I know you loved me heavy, and now… but your journeys inspire me to keep inspiring you,” she said. “Thank you for going on this journey with me. I love you guys!”

To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter

April McIntosh always had a complicated relationship with food. She struggled with her weight growing up and regularly indulged in fatty, sugary meals to deal with her emotions. April always wanted to lose weight, and she made an effort to be active, but she just couldn’t get her diet on track.

That all changed about a year ago, when April and her husband, Chris, discovered the high-fat, low-carb keto diet—and lost a collective 235 pounds.

RELATED: 9 Easy Keto Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Last November, the number staring back at April on the scale was 330 pounds, and for Chris it was 316. April tells Health the Virginia couple’s diet consisted of processed, less-than-healthy foods like mac and cheese, frozen chicken nuggets, and instant mashed potatoes. “Stuff that really had no nutritional value,” she says.

Chris is a mechanic, a job that calls for long, stressful hours, he says. His food choices reflected this. If he was making lunch to take to work, he would throw together “whatever was quick,” he tells Health. At the end of the workday, he indulged to take the edge off. “Eating was my coping mechanism,” he says.

Slowly but surely, April began to realize that her weight was holding her back. One moment that stands out to her was when she was at an amusement park with her 8-year-old brother. He was dying to ride a rollercoaster with his big sister, but April was panicked about it, she recalls.

RELATED: 13 Keto Fat Bomb Recipes That Are Super Easy to Make

“While we were in line, I was thinking ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to fit or if it’s going to be dangerous because I’m so much larger than him and the bar isn’t going to close properly to keep him safe,’” April says. When it was their turn to get on the ride, April’s fears came true. Her hips couldn’t fit in the seat, and she had to tell her little brother she couldn’t ride with him.

April wishes that would have been the final straw to force her to commit to losing weight. But that breaking-point moment finally happened a few months later, when she and Chris were at an awards dinner. She dressed up for it, and she felt like she looked incredible. But when she saw the photos from the night, the woman she saw on the screen didn’t look anything like the way she felt. “It was mind-blowing to me that I got to a point where I didn’t even recognize myself,” she says.

At that moment, April was done sitting back and watching her health spiral out of control. She had been following keto success stories on social media, and though she was skeptical about giving up foods like pasta, she knew something had to change.

So on the last day of November 2017, April made the switch to keto. She admits the first few days were hard, especially because of the hunger. But after about a week, she noticed healthy changes. “I had more energy, I didn’t feel bloated all the time, and I was really excited,” she says.

Chris, on the other hand, wasn’t convinced keto was for him. He stuck to his usual meal choices while he watched April give the high-fat, low-carb keto lifestyle a go. Chris didn’t think he could give up foods like bread and potatoes, which had been staples of his diet for his entire life.

It took him about a month of watching April’s progress to join her on her weight-loss journey. As soon as he got on board, he knew he made the right choice. “You won’t believe the places you lose weight,” he says—explaining that he wears rubber gloves to work, and in a short period of time, he dropped a glove size.

RELATED: 7 Dangers of Going Keto

April and Chris agree that those early signs of success motivated them to stick to it. They replaced their usual frozen chicken nuggets with steak, cheese, broccoli, and bacon, and they made sure they were getting exercise in ways that worked for them. April says she likes to walk a mile or two on her lunch break to get her body moving, and Chris works on his feet all day and does active house chores like splitting wood.

Now, a year later, April has lost 135 pounds and weighs in at 195. Chris has lost 100 pounds and clocks in at 216.

Both are more confident about the way they look, and they love that they no longer worry that their weight is holding them back from pursuing activities and hobbies. But April believes that the most rewarding part for her is her newfound freedom from food.

“I don’t feel like food controls me anymore,” she says. “When I put something in my mouth, it’s because I know what I’m doing, it’s intentional. I’m not just eating to eat.”

To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter