At the beginning of my weight-loss journey, I initially cut many of my favorite foods from my diet, simply because they were too high in calories. After a while, I realized it’s impossible to live in a dieting bubble; there’s always a party, a celebration or a craving to contend with. So, I began to rethink my strategy. Instead of compiling a list of “bad” foods, I embarked on a quest to lighten up what would normally be very calorie-laden dishes.

At first, I tried the age-old substitutes, like replacing oil and eggs with applesauce in baked goods. Sure, my cakes and muffins cooked. But they certainly didn’t taste very good. But I kept experimenting, and through the years, I’ve discovered some ingredient substitutions that are so effective no one would notice the difference. The key is finding alternatives with similar tastes and textures. With a little thoughtful planning, it’s possible to create flavorful recipes that are low-calorie, low-fat and incredibly tasty. … //READ MORE

I had been overweight my entire life. But after the birth of my second daughter, things truly got out of control. According to my scale, I was the heaviest I’d ever been. None of my clothes fit. And aside from feeling the typical new-mom exhaustion, I was feeling sloppy and depressed. In an effort to cheer me up, my mother came over with an old video of my first birthday. All of us—my mom, my eldest daughter, my “skinny husband” and me, nursing the baby—sat on the couch to watch. There on the screen we saw a chubby, curly-haired little brunette in a white dress. I thought I looked cute. But Skinny Husband, who I’m sure had no malicious intent, looked from the screen to me, and back to the screen and said, “Oh, look dear. You were fat even then.”

My heart sank and that familiar feeling rumbled in the pit of my stomach. I wasn’t mad, but embarrassed. Like a teenager on a bad date. Like I wanted to crawl under the coffee table and die. But this time something was different. A fire deep inside me had been ignited. That very day, I made a commitment with myself to never feel ashamed again because of my weight. I joined Weight Watchers and lost 64 pounds—almost 37 percent of my body weight—during the next 18 months. More than four years ago, thanks to my weight loss success, I became a Weight Watchers leader and have encountered thousands of women who want to make a similar change. I’ve noticed that sadly, most of those who enroll in the program don’t achieve their goals. But those who do succeed—and the women I know who find success with other health-and-fitness programs—have something in common … //READ MORE