Losing Weight: From Size 20 to Size 8

Stacy at size 18-20, 245 pounds

Stacy at size 8

Thanks much to Stacy for sending in this story of true determination and success. She has lost 100 pounds and has gone from size 18-20 to size 8. 


Hi my name is Stacy Langston, I am 27 years old and living proof that plain old diet and exercise work if you stick to it. 


I've tried all the diets out there, cleansing, Nutrisystem, diet pills, I even had my colon cleansed to help push the extra weight out. Of course I lost weight, but eventually I got bored and discouraged so I stopped; I gained everything back. Yo-yo dieting about sums it up.

Since January 2011 I have lost a total of 97 pounds. I went from a size 18-20 and now my size 8 pants are sliding off!!! I'm currently working on the last 10 pounds. I have been over weight my entire life. I now weigh what I weighed in 8th grade. Please read my story I'm eager to share my success with you.

Ive had weight issues since puberty. I started gaining and gaining, eating and eating, I was depressed, lonely, and found comfort in the foods that were always there for me. My peers, teachers, and even church leaders would make comments about my weight. I tried to not let it bother me but it did. I was so sad and upset I almost dropped out of school in my senior year. I had friends yes but nothing felt better than curling up on my bed or my best friends bed as we ditched school indulging in fast food and ice cream. After getting suspended from school for not attending I went to an adult high school so I could save my chances of graduating. I had no friends and the depression grew.

My mother took me to my physician after school was over who put me on anti depressants and a weight loss pill; at the age of 18 I weighed a whooping 260 pounds. I struggled with my weight for years after that and my inner demons of constantly putting myself down. I moved to Jersey in 2004 to be a nanny (I was born and raised in Southern Utah) I joined a gym a few years later, lost 40 pounds! I was so proud of myself but would get discouraged as I watched all the other thin girls at the gym. They made me feel like a big whale when I went to work out, after about 20 minutes I would put myself down so much I'd leave the gym and hit Mc Donalds. I ballooned up again to 240.

In 2007 my coworkers had a biggest loser competition. I did pretty good. After receiving free food from nutrisystem and a guide I lost about 40 pounds, it taught me how to eat and learn portion control. But once again my old eating habits would sneak their way in and I'd gain everything back.

In the summer of 2010 my current employer and her assistant lost a ton of weight, they looked amazing and I was totally convinced if these women in their late 30's who had demanding jobs and families to take care of could lose weight then there is NO EXCUSE for myself. So when New Years came along I set a resolution to finally become healthy.

I started my diet weighing 245 pounds. At first it was hard to get into the routine. I started following the nutrisystem guide I had done a few years back, just not eating their food. I struggled but would somehow fight those inner demons and push myself to eat healthy. There were days when I would throw myself to the ground in hysterics saying "I cant do this I cant do this," but there was always my coworkers and family members by my side to cheer me on and give me support, my boss even threw away cookies I had in my hands during teacher appreciation week.

In the months to follow I came across a book from the Biggest Loser. It had a calorie guide and suggestions to keep a food journal. So I bought myself a notebook and started counting those calories. I became excited about trying new fruits, veggies, and meals. The weight began flying off.

I started adding some exercise into my diet and more and more pounds were being shed. I was waking up every morning at 5 am so I could work out at home to numerous dvds. I did (and still do) yoga, Zumba, cardio, and even strength training all in the comfort of my living room. By the end of December 2011 I lost a total of 75 pounds. Not seeing my family since December 2010, they were completely shocked about my weight loss and made me feel so good and happy with myself.

May 2012 I am so close to my weight loss goal ten pounds to go!!! I am so proud of myself and have never in my life worked for something so hard like this. I didn't think I could ever reach this goal I set for myself and am shocked from my determination to reach it. Not only has my recent success helped me look good, but now I feel good. I don't hide my personality as much as I had in the past. I feel beautiful and confident. I'm finally starting to truly love myself, that's what its about right? My work has inspired me so much I would love to go back to school to study nutrition so I can help people loose weight the healthy natural way. I would love to coach people to work out, make meal plans, and encourage them to keep going.

Diet and exercise do work, you just have to stick with it I am living proof. Its hard work but totally worth it, don't you want to look in the mirror and say "I'm healthy, happy, beautiful, and strong, look what I accomplished."??? Surgeries, pills, and fad diets are replacing the real way to lose weight, wouldn't you want to feel this feeling of accomplishment? I surely do, I am committed to my new life style 100 percent and will never again go back to my old habits, I cant just throw this work away. Its not about looking good but looking at yourself from the inside and finding who you are. I believed in my self and I want everyone to!

Thanks for taking the time to read my success story and I hope to be somewhat of an inspiration, here's to a long healthy life!!!!