Name: Stacy Wright

Marital status: Single, no children

Occupation: Researcher

Starting Weight: 260

Current weight: 156

Goal weight: 145-150

1. What was your turning point?

My turning point was when I got diagnosed with high blood pressure and my doctor had to put me on medication. I thought that just like having a cold, with taking the medication, it would go away and I felt really upset at the fact that it just still remained high. Then I thought, 'is there something that I can do to get off this medication because I don't like it', and I said, 'okay then, I am going to have to eat and exercise more'.

2. What lifestyle changes did you make?

I always exercised — it was just the eating part that I had a problem with. I have always been on a diet, always said 'okay, I am going to starve myself and do this crazy diet to lose some weight', but then I always would go back to eating the way I used to eat. So I said 'okay, let me figure out ways to cut out the salt and the sugar, or find alternatives to the things I like so that they could be healthier'.

3. How long did it take you to start seeing results?

When I weighed my heaviest, that was in 2008. I was in Japan at the time and that's when I found out how much I weighed. I started exercising and noticed that clothes that I couldn't wear before could now fit. It wasn't until the doctor diagnosed me in 2010 when I weighed about 204, that I started to really change my eating habits.

4. What were the challenges you had to face?

I love ice-cream — that is my favourite thing — and sometimes I really want to eat ice-cream, but I say 'okay, how about finding somewhere where I can find ice-cream that is not as fattening or not as sweet'. Also going to restaurants or various places, having high-blood pressure, my main concern was that I didn't want to be on any medication for the rest of my life. I had to go to restaurants and say, 'okay, can you not put salt in my food', or find meals that were much healthier. It was frustrating because some restaurants would say they couldn't do that, they had to put in salt in the meals.

5. How has your life changed since the weight loss?

It has been really great. I have had so many compliments and people ask me, 'How do you do it?' I have also influenced a lot of friends who have started to lose weight as well, because I have been heavy most of my life and to see me really change has influenced a lot of them. I just feel so much better about myself. I have always been very shy and now I have a little bit more confidence and I am even more outgoing.

6. What is your newfound comfort food?

It is definitely still ice cream. I still enjoy the ones that are fattening, but I don't eat it as much as I used to.

7. What weight loss advice would you give to our readers?

1. If you enjoy certain foods, try and find alternatives that can make that food that you particularly like healthier, because I know being on a diet can sometimes seem so depriving.

2. Exercise is definitely important.

3. Try as much as you can to cut back on salt and sugar. When you look at certain can foods, it is ridiculous the amount of sodium and it is sickening.

4. Eat more vegetables. I find that when it comes to a meal, I have more vegetables than anything else in my plate.

Stacy's eating plan

Breakfast: Unsweetened oatmeal with water, fruits and nuts.

Lunch: Vegetables and a protein dish like fish or tofu.

Snacks: Nuts such as almonds

Dinner: Vegetables and protein or a sandwich made with wholewheat bread.

Stacy's exercise regime

*Going to the gym and doing about half an hour on the treadmill.

*Strength training at the gym.

*Zumba classes for 45 minutes.

*Walking for about an hour.

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