"I found out exercise can be fun."
Lisa Trapani, 45, Westminster, Maryland
Lost: 40 pounds
Maintained for: One-and-a-half years
When Trapani decided to lose weight, she needed to get physical. "It occurred to me that when I was a kid, I loved running around, but as an adult, I'd come to see moving my body as a self-conscious thing. I decided that if I thought of exercising as a way to blow off steam, I might enjoy it."
Although Trapani has made some tweaks to her diet -- eating a healthy breakfast and downsizing her dinner -- her primary focus has been on exercising at least 30 minutes a day. She has been surprised to discover her new workout is her favorite part of the day. When she's on the treadmill, she blasts Madonna. Trying new exercise videos, she found that she loves Pilates. Her bottom line: Keep workouts fresh so you'll stay at it, then reap the rewards.
Everyone can find something they enjoy doing that gets them to move more, says Jay Ashmore, PhD, of the Cooper Aerobics Center, in Dallas. "One of my clients loves art," he says. "So we have her do her walks in museums and gardens. She gets her physical activity needs met by doing something she loves, and she's lost 50 pounds."
