No baby weight on board for this Oregon mom

For Becky Harrold, stepping on the scale after giving birth to two babies 17 months apart was a much needed wake-up call, which she describes in a personal essay she sent me.

Here's the short version: Becky had been yo-yo dieting her whole life. After getting married, she traded dieting for newlywed bliss. A year later, she became pregnant. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with high blood pressure, and put on bed rest. She spent her days "eating for two," and by the time she gave birth, Becky was 255 pounds.

Nine months later, Becky was pregnant again. She faced the same restrictions, and continued to put on weight. After her daughter was born, she worked hard to lose the weight by eating right and counting calories. Imagine her shock when she got on the scale four months later and weighed 257 pounds.

Becky heard that her cousin Tammi had been successful on the L A Weight Loss program. So she visited the Eugene, Ore., center to check it out. She was immediately impressed with Katie, her personal counselor, and how easily she could follow the program while raising two small kids. She signed up that day.

Ten months later, Becky had lost 127 pounds -- about half her total body weight! She now weighs 137 pounds and wears a size 6! She's also off her blood pressure medication.

And to help her keep up with her toddlers, Becky's set a new goal for herself: training for a 10K in July. Good luck, Becky!

That's Becky on the left at 225 pounds:



And here she is at a stunning 137 pounds!



FAST FACTS

Name: Becky Harrold
Hometown: Eugene, Ore.
Age: 27
Height: 5’7"

Starting weight: 257 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 137 pounds
Program start date: September 2005

Favorite food: Chicken Fettucini Alfredo.

Biggest temptation: Polishing off what her kids leave on their plates.

Biggest motivator: Being able to play with her kids.

Biggest obstacle: Getting her mind to catch up with her new body.

Old eating philosophy: Pizza, ice cream, chips, and other junk foods.

New eating philosophy: Meals packed with protein from fresh vegetables and chicken.

Best thing about losing weight: Gaining the confidence to know she looks great.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can still eat the foods you love, just in the right portion sizes.

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.