Pennie Gregory Lost 157 Pounds

Name: Pennie Gregory, 30

Location: Plant City, FL

Worst of times: 317 pounds

Best of times: 160 pounds

My turning point: When I got weighed in at the doctor’s office and realized I was heading toward 400 pounds! I started to diet immediately—right before Thanksgiving. This time, I was really serious about losing weight.

My slim-down techniques: Watching my carb intake, cutting out sweets, drinking only 1 percent milk and eating lots of lean protein like boneless, skinless chicken breast.

Kept the weight off: About a year and a half, so far.

My best motivator: Seeing the pounds come off—both on the scale and on my waistline—and knowing that I can succeed.

My greatest temptations: Swiss cheese. When I have a craving, I buy Boar’s Head low-fat Swiss. It tastes just as good as the high-fat brands but has 25 percent less fat!

My favorite diet food: Applebee’s healthy chicken quesadillas with low-fat shredded cheese and sour cream. I eat out a lot, so I try to go to restaurants that have low-calorie entrees.

My snacking tips: I don’t snack that much. But when I do I limit myself to one serving of low-fat potato chips or fresh fruit—pineapple or red grapes. If all I have is canned fruit, I rinse it first to get the syrup off. My exercise routine: Riding my stationary bike every day and using weights to strengthen and tone my body.

Stay-slim advice: Don’t starve yourself and then find the need to binge. Also, make sure to eat the proper amount of calories for someone your size.

The payoff: My husband tells me that I smile a lot more now. That’s definitely nice to hear!