Best secrets from our "biggest losers"

We recently tracked down 11 of our "biggest losers" on the blog -- people who've lost over 100 pounds -- to find out their favorite weight loss secrets.

From portion control to finding the right foods, these successful losers share what helped them drop the pounds -- more than 2,000 pounds in total, to be exact. But these points of advice aren't just for the obese. We selected them because they're helpful for anyone trying to lose weight!

Sharla Pincock, lost 150 pounds: Eat more often throughout the day. Breakfast is the most important meal.

Tena Evans, lost 173 pounds: You can still eat out at restaurants while losing weight, just make the right decisions.

Arianna Chavez, lost 154 pounds: Drink lots of water! It really helps and can make a big difference.

Ben Shanahan, lost 130 pounds: You can eat anything and still lose weight. It’s all about portion control and making smart choices. For example, have veggie pizza instead of pizza with meat toppings.

Becky Harrold, lost 120 pounds: If you stick to the correct portions, you can still eat the foods you love. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change.

Connie Thone, lost 220 pounds: Keep variety in your diet.

John Lay, lost 160 pounds: It’s all about adding exercise to your life.

Kathy Kersting, lost 108 pounds: Use little mental tricks to dissuade yourself from eating bad foods throughout the day, like whether the person from work who made those brownies washed their hands.

LuAnn Zipp, lost 150 pounds: Moderation is the key to everything.

Margaret Mondragon, lost 188 pounds: By adding more fruit to your diet, you'll lose weight, and enjoy a sweet snack.

Michelle Dumas, lost 200 pounds: Don’t eat carbs at night.

Graduate student earns top honors for weight loss

Many people are born leaders. Others are born athletes. But some folks are born heavy.

That was the case with Michelle Dumas. She arrived in this world at a hefty nine and a half pounds -- and went up from there. As the only overweight person in a family of athletes, she hit 201 pounds at age 12, with no energy for physical activities.

Michelle continued this inactivity into her college years, adding poor eating habits to the mix. She frequented the local hamburger joint, and relied on quick, easy, processed foods -- like fried chicken, hot pockets, and cheese puffs -- to get her through the day. By the time she graduated, she weighed a scale-tipping 391 pounds.

Then tragedy struck. Right after Michelle earned her bachelor's degree and was preparing to start her master's, her father died from diabetes complications. With the disease running on both sides of her family, Michelle knew she had to act quickly, or risk losing her life too.

Her new goal: lose 230 pounds -- more than half her size. But she needed help to do it. After trying other weight loss programs and supplements without success, she decided to join the L A Weight Loss center in Nashville after seeing it work for some of her acquaintances.

There, she teamed up with her personal L A Weight Loss counselor, who helped her plan healthy, easily prepared meals. Michelle saw immediate results, losing five pounds in the first three days, and 10 pounds in the first week!

When she got down to 230 pounds, Michelle also started exercising. Four to five times a week, she'd hit the treadmill, the elliptical machine, and the weights to cut inches and tone her body.

It was this combo of diet and exercise that helped Michelle lose 97 pounds by the time she completed graduate school. But she kept on going. Her grand total over two years: nearly 200 pounds! This puts her at a fit 195 -- a mere 30 pounds away from her goal weight!!

Weight loss has made a tremendous difference in Michelle's life. She now has the confidence and energy to attend networking events, socialize with friends, and shop for new clothes.

Michelle especially sees the difference in her career, where looking more professional has created more opportunities for her to advance, and make full use of her graduate degree.

Way to kick those pounds to the curb, Michelle! And good luck on the last leg of your weight loss journey!

Here's Michelle sporting a bit more than the usual freshman 15:



And here she is fully matriculated from the school of weight loss. Way to go, Michelle!



FAST FACTS

Name: Michelle Dumas
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
Age: 30
Height: 5' 9½"

Starting weight: 391 pounds
Goal weight: 165 pounds
Current weight: 195 pounds
Program start date: January 17, 2005

Favorite food: Pizza.

Biggest temptation: Peanut butter.

Biggest motivator: Wanting to reduce her chances for developing diabetes.

Biggest obstacle: Being around other people who ate unhealthily.

Old eating philosophy: Indulging in pizza, fast food, Doritos, and anything with cheese.

New eating philosophy: Enjoying healthier foods, including eggplant, cabbage, broccoli, bananas, and apples.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling healthy and energetic.

Best weight loss secret learned: Avoid eating carbs at night.