By Charlene Bazarian

Do you ever catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror or look at a photo and realize the image in your head no longer matches what you see? Maybe you’re staring at a closet full of clothes that no longer fit, wondering how your body became a stranger overnight. You’re not alone. I was there too—staring down nearly a 100-pound surplus that had crept up like an uninvited guest who wouldn’t leave. My weight loss journey wasn’t a straight path; it was an obstacle course of plateaus and slip-ups. But here’s the good news: every hurdle has a hack, and every story (mine included) proves it’s possible to leap over them.

Deb Levine lost 55 lbs. after an unexpected discovery that she was diabetic. When her eyesight suddenly improved dramatically, her eye doctor urged her to report it to her primary care physician, suspecting diabetes or something even worse. Once diagnosed with diabetes, with her blood sugar regularly in the 200s, Deb began her quest to reclaim her health. She drank lots of water and ate small snacks several times a day, aiming for 100 calories with 10-15 grams of protein and under 15 grams of carbohydrates, spaced 2-2.5 hours apart to allow her blood sugar to stabilize. For main meals, she stuck to 5-7 ounces of lean protein and vegetables while increasing her activity. Deb shares that even walking for 5-10 minutes after a meal, often with her beloved Bernedoodle, Reggie, made a difference. Today, Deb routinely aims for 10,000 steps daily and attends Barre fitness classes three times a week.

Deb shares that one of her biggest hurdles was mindless eating. She soon realized that a handful of anything, even healthy options, could add up and derail her weight loss efforts. Deb’s hack? Eat intentionally! She learned that planning snacks and meals, and pre-planning flexible indulgences, kept her on track. Mindless grazing, regardless of how healthy the choice, was a surefire way to stall progress. To combat sweet cravings, Deb used a unique trick: eating pickles and drinking water. She told herself that if she still wanted the treat afterward, she could have it, but the tangy trick always worked!

After learning she was prediabetic and had high blood pressure, Laurie Bono began her journey to lose 53 lbs. and reclaim her health and energy. Laurie started with Zepbound. After losing 25 lbs., she began strength training, which she describes as one of the best decisions of her life. Laurie acknowledges that without her initial weight loss, she might not have had the confidence to join a strength training class. “I started using Zepbound as a tool, and in addition to vastly improving my fitness activity, I fully embraced changing my eating habits,” she says. One of her biggest challenges was the perceived pressure to drink alcohol and eat at social events, including her daughter’s recent wedding. While she didn’t feel she had a problem with alcohol, Laurie realized she felt better without it. Her strategy for handling peer pressure like “Come on, it’s only one drink” is to decide in advance whether she wants a cocktail, owning her decision rather than letting expectations sweep her away.

Fending off a ferocious sweet tooth was another hurdle in Laurie’s journey. Desserts were a significant factor in her initial weight gain. To tackle this, she swapped her beloved Brigham’s Ice Cream for Yasso Bars, finding a treat that satisfied cravings without undoing progress.
Awareness is key to her success: knowing her favorite ice cream is in the freezer would tempt her, but having a healthier option keeps her on track without feeling deprived.

Amy Kukta shed an incredible 93 lbs., but acknowledges her journey toward a healthier weight and active lifestyle was far from linear. Several years ago, Amy realized she needed real change and began paying closer attention to her food choices. When the pandemic hit, working from home—away from the office food culture of pizza, cupcakes, and desk candy—gave her a much-needed reset. After being diagnosed with spondylolisthesis and exhausting non-surgical options, Amy underwent spinal fusion. During recovery, she followed her doctor’s advice to walk three times a day for at least 30 minutes and soon found herself walking six miles daily!

Amy also overhauled her nutrition, aiming to fuel healing and fat loss without feeling deprived. She ramped up protein with nutrient-packed staples like sardines, egg whites, low-fat cottage cheese, and fat-free Greek yogurt. She ditched calorie-heavy creams and cheeses, opting for lighter swaps that still satisfied cravings.

Stress, Amy admits, played a major role in her weight loss struggles. When caring for ailing parents, feeling physically and emotionally drained, she leaned on food and alcohol to cope. Realizing that eating to manage stress, sadness, boredom, or celebration wasn’t the answer, Amy now walks off stress when it creeps in. Keeping her hands busy with a fidget toy or stress ball also helps prevent snacking. Another key to her success was prioritizing sleep, which she found instrumental in managing stress.

Amy’s love of sweets, ever-present at social gatherings, holidays, and celebrations, was another challenge. Her strategy? Mindful eating. By focusing on macros, prioritizing protein, reducing portions, sharing desserts, and staying within her calorie range, Amy found balance. Her guiding philosophy? “Treat every day as a fresh slate of choices—because staying mindful isn’t just smart; it’s the secret that turns good intentions into lasting success.”

As we’ve journeyed through the inspiring stories of Deb, Laurie, and Amy, who turned their “oh no” moments into “oh yes” victories, it’s time to share my own chapter. My “aha moment” came after being body-shamed by a mean-spirited day spa receptionist when a one-size-fits-all robe didn’t fit me. Despite countless failed attempts to lose weight, this was my defining moment. No more half-hearted promises. I declared war on the unwelcome weight. My strategy was to emulate a fit person’s habits: I started weight training, drank protein shakes, and crafted a diet of lean proteins, leafy greens, and complex carbs to keep me fueled and on track. I kept learning and tweaking as I worked my way down the scale, but hurdles love to pop up unexpectedly.

First up: the saboteurs. Not just the siren call of “just this once” or “one bite won’t hurt,” but curveballs from my inner circle, like a well-meaning (or not-so-well-meaning) friend cooing, “C’mon, live a little—you’re no fun anymore!” I learned not to dwell on their motives but to politely and persistently hold my ground. Eventually, my circle realized their efforts to tempt me were futile.

Then there was the trickiest foe: success itself. I call it “the comfortables”—that cozy trap where early wins make you think, “Hey, I’ve got this!” and suddenly you’re slacking like it’s optional. For me, it hit hardest on weekends. I’d stick to the plan all week, then splurge a bit, only to watch the scale yo-yo. I learned the hard way that moderation is for maintenance, not momentum.

Don’t let past failures be a roadblock. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve tried to lose weight. I felt like I’d done every diet from Atkins to Weight Watchers. It’s okay to take your hundredth first step!

Here’s the plot twist no one warns you about: no matter how many hurdles you clear, there’s no finish line in this marathon. Even now, years after hitting my goal and keeping nearly 100 pounds off, I’m still the vigilant gatekeeper of my choices. A few careless meals, and those pounds start whispering about creeping back. It’s a humbling reminder that consistency and awareness are lifelong sidekicks. My advice? Don’t let past failures define you. My hundredth “first step” was the charm.

These real-life success stories all whisper the same truth: weight loss isn’t a linear journey, but success hinges on facing inevitable hurdles with grit and grace. Every great transformation starts with a single, sincere step—whether it’s your first or your hundredth. You can rewrite your story, one fueled-and-fabulous step at a time.

About the author:

Charlene Bazarian is a fitness and weight loss success story after losing 96 pounds. She mixes her no-nonsense style of fitness advice with humor on her blog at Fbjfit.com and on Facebook at FBJ Fit and Instagram at @FBJFit.

Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.