Got a success story of your own? Send it to us at success.stories@huffingtonpost.com and you could be featured in our I Lost Weight series!
Name: Krissie Zeutenhorst
Age: 24
Height: 5'0"
Before Weight: 260 pounds
How I Gained It: I was always active in my teens, playing sports year-round. However, when I hit high school, I decided to focus on student government. I didn't go to the gym or anything, so it was easy to gain weight. After high school, whenever I would try to diet, I did it poorly. I would either not eat much or purge whatever I ate. I was also on a medication that had me craving food, and I would eat late at night. Eventually, I didn't care that I was gaining weight anymore, I thought it was never going to come off.
Breaking Point: I started looking at pictures of myself from when I was happy. I was in good shape and that was "me". I moved in with my sister, and she was getting healthy. I wasn't going to sit around and watch her and keep getting bigger. That was not an option. In the end, I just wanted to be happy again.
How I Lost It: Simple, really: diet and exercise. I don't like to follow fads, so I didn't want a pill, I wanted to lose it on my own. I started slowly with exercise. First I did a 45-minute Spinning class. My sister told me I'd love it. I couldn't even finish a full class without getting off the bike. Then a few months later, I added in some time with a personal trainer, then a TRX class. Now, I also do a boot camp class. Outside of the gym, I like to go for walks. I like to put my headphones on and get lost in the beauty around me.
Food was tricky. I had to start eating breakfast, and I hate breakfast. But every morning I eat a breakfast bar, then for lunches I have a meat with a veggie and fruit and the same for dinner. Once I have dinner, I don't eat after that.
I'm still working to be around 110 pounds, but I have come a long way. I can sit comfortably on an airplane. I can finally run a full mile without stopping. I can do a plank for two minutes without stopping. I can complete a full Spin class. I enjoy the gym. I always hated going before. Now, if I miss a day I get upset. I feel great and I love life.
Current Weight: 185 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
Stephanie BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/22/i-lost-weight-stephanie-kariott_n_4150660.html" target="_blank">Read Stephanie's story here.</a>
Stephanie AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/22/i-lost-weight-stephanie-kariott_n_4150660.html" target="_blank">Read Stephanie's story here.</a>
Andrew BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/25/i-lost-weight-andrew-phillips_n_4108426.html" target="_blank">Read Andrew's story here.</a>
Andrew AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/25/i-lost-weight-andrew-phillips_n_4108426.html" target="_blank">Read Andrew's story here.</a>
Amanda And Keith BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/18/i-lost-weight-amanda-keith-flick_n_4177405.html" target="_blank">Read their story here.</a>
Amanda And Keith AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/18/i-lost-weight-amanda-keith-flick_n_4177405.html" target="_blank">Read their story here.</a>
Cayla BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/20/i-lost-weight-cayla-duncan_n_4150839.html" target="_blank">Read Cayla's story here.</a>
Cayla AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/20/i-lost-weight-cayla-duncan_n_4150839.html" target="_blank">Read Cayla's story here.</a>
Caitlin BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/15/i-lost-weight-caitlin-flora_n_4097197.html" target="_blank">Read Caitlin's story here.</a>
Caitlin AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/15/i-lost-weight-caitlin-flora_n_4097197.html" target="_blank">Read Caitlin's story here.</a>
Robert BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/i-lost-weight-robert-e-jones_n_4086137.html" target="_blank">Read Robert's story here.</a>
Robert AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/i-lost-weight-robert-e-jones_n_4086137.html" target="_blank">Read Robert's story here.</a>
David BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/11/i-lost-weight-david-kari_n_3964342.html" target="_blank">Read David's story here.</a>
David AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/11/i-lost-weight-david-kari_n_3964342.html" target="_blank">Read David's story here.</a>
Barbara BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/04/i-lost-weight-barbara-marie-cuadrado_n_4084935.html" target="_blank">Read Barbara's story here.</a>
Barbara AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/04/i-lost-weight-barbara-marie-cuadrado_n_4084935.html" target="_blank">Read Barbara's story here.</a>
Steve BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/i-lost-weight-steve-weirich_n_3880757.html" target="_blank">Read Steve's story here.</a>
Steve AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/i-lost-weight-steve-weirich_n_3880757.html" target="_blank">Read Steve's story here.</a>
Kim BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/01/i-lost-weight-kim-phillips_n_4070257.html" target="_blank">Read Kim's story here.</a>
Kim AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/01/i-lost-weight-kim-phillips_n_4070257.html" target="_blank">Read Kim's story here.</a>
Stephen BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/30/i-lost-weight-stephen-pagano_n_4039494.html" target="_blank">Read Stephen's story here.</a>
Stephen AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/30/i-lost-weight-stephen-pagano_n_4039494.html" target="_blank">Read Stephen's story here.</a>
Vanessa BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/25/i-lost-weight-vanessa-safie_n_4002852.html" target="_blank">Read Vanessa's story here.</a>
Vanessa AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/25/i-lost-weight-vanessa-safie_n_4002852.html" target="_blank">Read Vanessa's story here.</a>
Levoris BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/28/i-lost-weight-levoris-anderson_n_4070122.html" target="_blank">Read Levoris's story here.</a>
Levoris AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/28/i-lost-weight-levoris-anderson_n_4070122.html" target="_blank">Read Levoris's story here.</a>
Tommy BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/21/i-lost-weight-tommy-smith_n_4003034.html" target="_blank">Read Tommy's story here.</a>
Tommy AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/21/i-lost-weight-tommy-smith_n_4003034.html" target="_blank">Read Tommy's story here.</a>
Jaime BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/23/i-lost-weight-jaime-coakley_n_3976666.html" target="_blank">Read Jaime's story here.</a>
Jaime AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/23/i-lost-weight-jaime-coakley_n_3976666.html" target="_blank">Read Jaime's story here.</a>
Brian BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/18/i-lost-weight-brian-mclaughlin_n_3920707.html" target="_blank">Read Brian's story here.</a>
Brian AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/18/i-lost-weight-brian-mclaughlin_n_3920707.html" target="_blank">Read Brian's story here.</a>
Desiree BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/14/i-lost-weight-desiree_n_3962225.html" target="_blank">Read Desiree's story here.</a>
Desiree AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/14/i-lost-weight-desiree_n_3962225.html" target="_blank">Read Desiree's story here.</a>
Hann BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/11/i-lost-weight-hann-sipin_n_3922446.html" target="_blank">Read Hann's story here.</a>
Hann AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/11/i-lost-weight-hann-sipin_n_3922446.html" target="_blank">Read Hann's story here.</a>
Alexandra BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/i-lost-weight-alexandra-ramos_n_3948060.html" target="_blank">Read Alexandra's story here.</a>
Alexandra AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/i-lost-weight-alexandra-ramos_n_3948060.html" target="_blank">Read Alexandra's story here.</a>
Jeramy BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/07/i-lost-weight-jeramy-turner_n_3895473.html" target="_blank">Read Jeramy's story here.</a>
Jeramy AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/07/i-lost-weight-jeramy-turner_n_3895473.html" target="_blank">Read Jeramy's story here.</a>
Krista BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/i-lost-weight-krista-guerrero_n_3880348.html" target="_blank">Read Krista's story here.</a>
Krista AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/i-lost-weight-krista-guerrero_n_3880348.html" target="_blank">Read Krista's story here.</a>
Carrie BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/09/i-lost-weight-carrie-moran_n_3900111.html" target="_blank">Read Carrie's story here.</a>
Carrie AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/09/i-lost-weight-carrie-moran_n_3900111.html" target="_blank">Read Carrie's story here.</a>
Victoria BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/02/i-lost-weight-victoria-elizabeth_n_3845450.html" target="_blank">Read Victoria's story here.</a>
Victoria AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/02/i-lost-weight-victoria-elizabeth_n_3845450.html" target="_blank">Read Victoria's story here.</a>
Tim BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/27/i-lost-weight-tim-bauer_n_3830618.html" target="_blank">Read Tim's story here.</a>
Tim AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/27/i-lost-weight-tim-bauer_n_3830618.html" target="_blank">Read Tim's story here.</a>
Maia BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/i-lost-weight-maia-sutton_n_3831040.html" target="_blank">Read Maia's story here.</a>
Maia AFTER
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/i-lost-weight-maia-sutton_n_3831040.html" target="_blank">Read Maia's story here.</a>
Truitt BEFORE
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/23/i-lost-weight-truitt-oneal_n_3769548.html" target="_blank">Read Truitt's story here.</a>
For more on weight loss, click here.
0 comments:
Post a Comment