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Weight loss is a top New Year’s resolution every January — made more intriguing this year as new weight-loss drugs could make the goal more realistic than ever for people with obesity.
If you’re looking for inspiration after weeks of holiday overeating, meet some of the men and women who transformed their bodies — and their health — in 2023.
Here are some of the top TODAY.com weight-loss journeys from this year and tips for weight-loss success in 2024 from members of Start TODAY:
Walking and diet changes helped her lose 114 pounds, cure acid reflux
Missy Gillenwater, 50, weighed 277 pounds when she began her walking routine. Following doctor’s orders, she also changed her diet after being diagnosed with acid reflux.
Gillenwater cut out fried and fatty foods, soda, tomato-based foods, red meat, bread and pasta. She focused on eating fresh vegetables and lighter meats, such as chicken, salmon and turkey. She also walks 10 to 13 miles a day.
She’s lost 114 pounds, and no longer has to take blood pressure and acid reflux medications.
Gillenwater advises others to take photos at every stage of the journey to keep themselves motivated.
Woman says 100-pound weight loss helped detect breast cancer
It took several tries, but Tamara Loving, 45, finally ended the cycle of weight gain, loss and regain.
She joined WeightWatchers off and on for years, eventually losing 122 pounds and maintaining the weight loss since 2016.
With a family history of breast cancer, Loving had been undergoing regular mammograms. She was diagnosed with the disease in 2017.
“The doctors have said, ‘I think your weight loss saved your life.’ Because I don’t know if I still had been 260 pounds that anything would have been found in that mammogram,” she tells TODAY.com.
She’s maintained her healthy eating and exercise habits, working out five days a…
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