1. WELOST
ONE BECAME A RAW VEGAN, ANOTHER
LIFTED WEIGHTS FIVE TIMES A WEEK. HOW THESE
WEIGHT-LOSS SUPERSTARS—WHO DROPPED A TOTAL OF 778 LBS.—
CHANGED THEIR LIFESTYLES AND THEIR LIVES!
By Ana Calderone, Antoinette Y. Coulton, Gabrielle Olya, Stephanie Emma Pfeffer, Lynette Rice, Barbara Kimberly Seigel and Michelle Ward54
ASHLEYCHONG
LOST
129LBS.
CONNERRENSCH
LOST
130LBS.
Photographs byCHRISSHIPMAN
55PEOPLE January 5, 2015
CECYRIOS
LOST
152LBS.
MARKBRYANT
LOST
264LBS.
NANCYPERALES
LOST
103LBS.
HAIR: FRANKIE PAYNE/USING NUMBER 4 HAIR CARE/CHANEL/OPUS BEAUTY; MAKEUP: GARRETT GERVAIS/CHANEL/OPUS BEAUTY; STYLIST: MONICA COTTO; PROP STYLIST: CHARLOTTE MALMLOF;
CLOTHING: FROM LEFT: TOP: THEORY; TANK: JOIE; SKIRT: KENNETH COLE; SHOES: JEFFREY CAMPBELL; NECKLACE: RUE GEMBON; DRESS: ALICE & OLIVIA; SHOES: CARVELA; BRACELETS: FLACA;
DRESS: REISS; SHOES: STUART WEITZMAN; SHOES: VIA SPIGA; EARRINGS: LOFT; RING: NOIR; JACKET: KENNETH COLE; SHIRT: MARINE LAYER; JEANS: SAND; SHOES: REISS

2. 56 January 5, 2015 PEOPLE
HALF
THEIR
SIZE
ConnerRensch
LOST130LBS.
Age: 25 Height:5'10"
Livesin: Omaha
Job:Hairstylist
„HerBadHabitsFrom the
time I was 6, I knew I was big­
ger than other kids. I was
bullied and would sneak food
into the bathroom so people
wouldn’t see me eat. I couldn’t
stop myself. My weakness was
creamy, cheesy chicken pasta.
„HerTurningPointI’ll never
forget:May14,2008.Ihadjust
comehomefrommyfreshman
year of college and looked
in a mirror and thought, “I can’t
do this anymore.” I met with
a nutritionist that day. Then I
got a trainer. That summer
I lost 70 lbs.
„HerLifeNowI had skin
removalsurgeryin2011,
which boosted my confi­
dence. And I can wear cute
shoes! When I was big, I
couldn’t even walk in heels.
Now I always wear them.
Atethreebig
bowlsofcreamy
pastafordinner
HowSheDidIt
ATESIXSMALLMEALSA
DAYANDGOTATRAINER
Focusedonclean,
nonprocessedfoods
after seeing a nutritionist.
Liftedweightsand
didhigh-intensitycardio
to build muscle tone.
WHATSHEATE
Meal1:Protein drink
and a banana
Meal2:1 cup egg whites,
scrambled, 1
⁄2 cup old-
fashioned rolled oats, 1 cup
blueberries and 1 tbsp.
raw honey
Meal3: 4 oz. extra-lean
ground turkey, 1
⁄2 cup sweet
potatoes, 4 cups spinach with
olive oil and vinegar dressing
Meal4:2 oz. turkey breast,
1 oz. raw, unsalted nuts,
sliced cucumber
Meal5:4 oz. salmon,
2 cups broccoli with 2 tsp.
organic unsalted butter
Meal6:1
⁄2 cup cottage
cheese with 1 tbsp. natural
nut butter
TIPFollow the 80/20 rule.
“I try to eat as healthy
as possible, but I still have my
cheat meals. You have to.”
THEN
271LBS.
NOW
141LBS.
DRESS:KENNETHCOLE;SHOES:CARVELA;INSET:COURTESYCONNERRENSCH

3. 58 January 5, 2015 PEOPLE
MarkBryant
LOST264LBS.
Age: 40 Height:6'
Livesin: Star, Idaho
Job:VP for a dietary
supplement manufacturer
„HisBadHabitsI was active in
high school, but after that I
gained 120 lbs. in six years. An
extra-large pizza for dinner was
the norm—I was eating up to
8,000 calories a day.
„HisTurningPointI had a
health scare in 2009, and
doctors thought it was a heart
attack. It ended up being an
anxiety attack, but my
cardiologist told me I needed
to lose weight or I wouldn’t live
to see my girls [Paige, 10,
Claire, 7 and Reese, 5] get
married. It was a real eye-
opener. I thought, “Do I love
food over my kids?”
„HisLifeNowI’ve been at my
current weight for about a
year. Before, I’d get winded
taking a walk with my wife
[Rebecca, 36] or pushing my
daughter around in a wagon.
Now I coach my girls’ soccer
teams. I’m out there running
with the kids!
Consumedupto
8,000caloriesaday
HALF
THEIR
SIZE
HowHeDidIt
CUTCALORIES
&JOINEDAGYM
Focusedonleanmeats
andvegetables, but
“I’ll have a little bowl of ice
cream once in a while.”
Committedtoworking
outfivedaysaweek,
including cardio and weight
training at Anytime Fitness.
WHATHEEATS
Morningsnack:
Protein shake
Breakfast: Flat-bread
sandwich with 3
⁄4 cup egg
whites, lean meat, cheddar
cheese, spinach, onions
and black olives
Lunch: Chicken and flank
steak, 1
⁄2 cup white rice and
2 cups steamed veggies
Pre-workoutsnack:
Protein bar
Post-workoutsnack:
Protein shake
Dinner:Chicken, 1
⁄2 cup
white rice, steamed
broccoli with spray butter
Dessert:1 cup oatmeal,
protein shake
TIPTakebabysteps
“I gradually cut down
calories. It’s about making
lifestyle changes you can
live with.”
THEN
442LBS.
NOW
178LBS.
TOP:LULULEMON;PANTS:PUMA;SNEAKERS:NIKE;INSET:COURTESYMARKBRYANT

4. x60 January 5, 2015 PEOPLE
HALF
THEIR
SIZE
Couldn’tfitintoher
bridesmaiddress
AshleyChong
LOST129LBS.
Age: 24 Height:5'2"
Livesin: Charleston, S.C.
Job:Entrepreneur
„HerBadHabitsI was always
a bit chunky growing up, but I
played soccer, so that kept my
weight in control. Then when
I met my now fiancé [Andrew,
24] in high school, I quit,
and our date nights revolved
around food. We tried a new
restaurant every night.
„HerTurningPointAt the
first fitting for my sister’s
wedding in 2012, none of the
bridesmaid dresses fit me.
That jump-started my weight
loss—and when I read stories
of people who were thriving
onaplant-baseddiet,Idecided
to give it a try. I’ve been a raw
vegan since April 2012.
„HerLifeNowAndrew later
became raw vegan as well.
He’s lost 85 lbs., and now
instead of going out to eat,
we’ll go in the kitchen and
make kale chips or tacos with
walnut “meat.”
HowSheDidIt
ADOPTEDARAW
VEGANLIFESTYLE
Lookedforrawrecipes
(like zucchini pasta with
avocado sauce) on
Instagram. “You’d be
surprised at how creative
you can get with fruits and
vegetables.”
Usedtheoutdoors
as her gym for hiking and
bike riding.
Foundaweight-loss
partner.“Myfiancéand
I keep each other on track.”
WHATSHEATE
Breakfast: Green smoothie
and half a watermelon
Lunch:Large kale salad
with red bell peppers,
cucumbers and tomatoes
Dinner:Raw vegan tacos
made with romaine lettuce,
walnuts, tomatoes and
avocado
Dessert:Raw vegan
brownies made with dates,
fruit and nuts
TIPStopcounting
calories. “Start counting the
amount of colors you’re
taking in from different fruits
and vegetables.”
THEN
252LBS.
NOW
123LBS.
TOP:ATHLETA;JACKET&PANTS:ALALA;SHOES:POURLAVICTOIRE;INSET:COURTESYASHLEYCHONG

5. 62 January 5, 2015 PEOPLE
THEN
297LBS.
NOW
145LBS.
HowSheDidIt
FOLLOWEDTHE
P90XMEALPLAN
&WORKOUTS
Preparedherown
meals, following the
stringent meal plan
religiously. “I had to learn
to cook all over again.”
Madeexercise
apriority.“If you have
a favorite TV show
youwatchdaily,youhave
timetoworkout.”
WHATSHEATE
Breakfast:Scrambled
egg whites, 1 banana and
1
⁄2 cup oats
Snack:Fresh pineapple
and yogurt
Lunch:6 oz. lean ground
turkey, 1 cup veggies
and 4 oz. sweet potato
Snack:Handful of
almonds and an apple
Dinner:6 oz. oven-
roasted chicken breast,
1 cup veggies and
2
⁄3 cup brown rice
Dessert:Banana and
1
⁄2 cup bran flakes
TIPBepatient.“Itried
torememberthatittook
meawhiletopackonthe
pounds,soitwilltakeabit
tomeltthemoff.”
CecyRios
LOST152LBS.
Age: 32 Height:5'7"
Livesin: Moreno Valley, Calif.
Job:Stay-at-home mom
„HerBadHabitsAfter I had my
kids, my weight ballooned. My
focuswasonmyfamily,andmy
health took a backseat. I’d get
fast food for every meal and
hide brownies and chips so I
could eat them late at night.
„HerTurningPointOn a
couples’ getaway trip, we all
rented a limo, and when it was
my husband’s [Gerardo, 36]
turn to get in, he couldn’t fit. I’d
taken up both of our seats!
When we got home I ordered
the P90X workout videos, and
after 90 days, I’d lost 45 lbs.
„HerLifeNowBefore I
couldn’t even go up five steps
without being winded. Now I
work out for an hour six days a
week. The best reward is being
able to keep up with my sons
[Gabriel, 10, and Gerardo Jr.,
11]. Sometimes they’re even
like, “Gosh, Mom, slow down!”
Tookup
2seatsinalimo
HALF
THEIR
SIZE
INSET:COURTESYCECYRIOS

6. HALF
THEIR
SIZE
Devouredan
entirechocolate
cakeinoneday
NancyPerales
LOST103LBS.
Age: 59 Height:5'3"
Livesin: Glendora, Calif.
Job:T-shirt designer
„HerBadHabitsI was a skinny,
active kid. But as an adult,
sweets were my downfall.
Snickers, Hershey bars. I’d have
two slices of chocolate cakefor
breakfast.And by night, there’d
be nothing left.
„HerTurningPointIn the car,
the steering wheel would hit
my stomach. My pants kept
ripping. I couldn’t find shoes
that fit. I was 57, and I realized
my eating was out of control.
„HerLifeNowI take three-
mile hikes with my husband,
Hugo. Now he’s the one
huffingandpuffing.Andatmy
40th high school reunion, I
wore this beautiful red dress.
One girl said, “You look better
than you did in high school!”
THEN
207LBS.
NOW
104LBS.
HowSheDidIt
JENNYCRAIG
&WALKING
Focusedonportion
control, pairing Jenny
Craig’s packaged
foods with fresh fruits
and veggies.
Walkedthree
timesaweek for 10 or
20 minutes, varying her
intensity. She also spent
20 minutes per day on
her elliptical—which she
set up outdoors to make
workouts more fun.
WHATSHEATE
Breakfast:Jenny Craig
cinnamon French toast
with light syrup; coffee
with nonfat milk
Snack:6 oz. low-fat
yogurt and 1 cup sliced
strawberries
Lunch: Jenny Craig
turkey burger; 1 cup baked
carrot chips
Snack:Small banana
Dinner:Jenny Craig
macaroni and cheese;
green salad with Jenny
Craig balsamic dressing
Dessert:Jenny Craig
S’mores Bar
TIPSatisfyasweet
toothwithlow-cal
treats.“I like 10-calorie
Jell-O or animal crackers.”
64 January 5, 2015 PEOPLE
TOP:NIKE;PANTS:LOFT:SHOES:VIASPIGA;INSET:COURTESYNANCYPERALES