By Cathy CoxeDiets Testimonial Manager
New York City, home of the stars -- singers, actresses, models... a hotbed of the fashion and entertainment industry, where size really does all too often matter! Alane M. lives in the center of it all, a single, 43-year-old legal secretary and part-time graphic design student. She has always had a whole world of opportunity and adventure just out her doorstep, but she felt too fat and out of place in her own skin to go out and explore it.
Alane says she lacked confidence to get out there and meet new people, to come out of her shell and enjoy life, because she felt "fat and flubby," and often felt like a third wheel when she went out with others.
Then one night, dateless at New Year's Eve party, she decided that something had to give, and she declared, "This can't be, this is not who I am and this is not who I want to be! I do not want to be wearing a size-14 party dress at any New Year's Eve to come!" And that was the big "a-ha moment" when Alane decided to lose the weight once and for all!
She started with eDiets at 178 pounds and wearing a size 14. After unsuccessfully trying several other weight-loss plans, she saw a link to eDiets.com and began exploring the Web site. Alane liked that she could see sample menus from all of the various meal plans that were available, and that she was able to change between plans to find what works best for her. The Glycemic Impact Plan looked like it would work best for Alane; she liked the idea of eating several smaller meals throughout the day. But she says it was not just the diet, but the Community she found with eDiets that made the biggest difference in her ultimate success!
With the other weight-loss plans she tried, Alane says she felt alone. As a single professional living in the city, she felt she couldn't relate to the majority of people who were part of the other weight-loss plans she had previously tried. But when she joined eDiets, she found an entire community of people just like herself -- people that held lifestyles similar to hers and that had still managed to successfully lose weight! Alane now moderates the "Living Single and Healthy" Support Board, helping others to find a successful path to weight loss while living the single lifestyle. She also frequents the Exercise and Fitness Board, and says the support she receives there helps her with accountability and the friends she made are always helping to cheer her on towards her goals.
Alane found the expert advice available on eDiets to be an indispensible tool as well. She says, "It was an eDiets expert that helped me to make a lot of changes in how I cared for myself." All in all, she says of the Community, "It was a godsend -- I couldn't have done it without them!" The Support Boards helped Alane to find tips and tricks she needed to make it all work when you're working full time, dating and going to school.
After dropping an incredible 44 pounds with eDiets, Alane exclaimed, "It's nice looking better in my 40s than I did all the way through my 30s!" She is now actually maintaining at 134 pounds… that's 4 pounds BELOW her goal weight of 138! Go Alane! Now going to New Year's parties in stylish and sexy size 6 dresses, Alane has gained the confidence to get out there and enjoy the single life and all it has to offer! She also says it's unfortunate, but her weight loss has also improved how people view her at work. "It seems professionalism and ability are unfortunately often partially judged on how you look. I am more effective and better respected now than I was before. I don't feel like people will immediately dismiss me, and I'm more confident!"
Alane cautions that it was not an easy journey for her. She has numerous physical limitations and was on several types of medications that slowed her weight loss and served to compound the lifestyle obstacles that she needed to overcome. But perseverance is the name of the game, and Alane is a true champion of making the best of what she had. On the Support Boards, she's often heard saying, "If you can't do what you think you're supposed to do, do what you can anyway!" That is to say, even if you can't be perfect, doing what you can is better than doing nothing at all.
Alane's last bit of advice? "If it's overwhelming, all of these lifestyle changes, don't try to make them all at once, do it in baby steps! Practice each new change before you incorporate a new one. Approached as practice, slowly it all becomes part of what you do, your lifestyle will change and you won't even know it!" Great advice from someone who's been there!
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Labels: diet, exercise, motivation, nutrition, testimonial, weight, weight-loss
Comment: Thursday, April 03, 2008 11:56:00 PM - 
said...
Your story was very inspiring to me, I love hearing others' stories about their successes. Thank you for sharing!
Comment: Monday, April 14, 2008 9:06:00 AM - 
Ann said...
Oh my, I'm a 14 (up from an 8 most of my life) and I truly didn't think it was possible. Thank you for sharing your story, and you truly look MAHvelous! Best wishes for loving life.
Comment: Saturday, April 19, 2008 12:25:00 PM - Anupama said...
Hi I am Anu from India and I can imagine ther determination with which you must have changed and stuck to the changes you made, it's really tough. Like they always say Tough times don't last,but tough people do.
Congrtulations to you on your success. I am trying to do the same.Wish me luck.
Anu
Comment: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 4:51:00 PM - Pat Hursey said...
Yes and if you don't have blue eyes and blond hair, the next thing will be extermination! What is the deal. Some people genetically are going to be born into this situation! What's next? If you don't fit this certain profile you are not allowed to participate in life?
Comment: Thursday, May 08, 2008 4:58:00 PM - said...
I would like to know what is wrong in the first place with being a size 14???! I am a size 14 and am healthy and I am very offended by the way this woman speaks, as if a size 14 is fat or unhealthy!
Comment: Saturday, May 10, 2008 9:26:00 AM - said...
I wanted to congratulate you on your success of your recent weight loss. For those of you who are making an effort to lose weight or for those of you have already done so, you know how difficult and challenging it is. It truly is a lifestyle change and takes a lot of discipline and preserverance. I lost around 18 lbs. about a year ago and know the incredible feeling of success you feel. It really is a feeling of freedom and you do feel like a new person. Regardless of the people who try to sabatoge your success by making you feel as if you don't deserve it with negative comments or even try to sabotage your efforts with food...beware...they are out there. Just ignore them because deep down, they are using it as an excuse to justify their own failures. I understand there are single Moms, women with medical conditions, and even women who are financially not able to buy nutritional food. My heart goes out to them. I cannot begin to understand their struggles but admire you for what you do. No one said life is easy but you can't sit around and complain about it all the time. Just do something about it! I made the decision to do that and have been able to keep the weight off by portion control and not making every excuse in the book. It begins with being aware of your negative self talk and at first it was hour by hour with me and then eventually it becomes daily until you just change all your bad habits. You have to find what works for you and stick with it. Don't make it complicated, simplify it. Calories in, calories out....simple math. Anyone can do if you truly want to.
I have two a two teen age girls which motivated me to make a lifestyle change. I wanted to set a good example for them to live a healthy lifestyle. I began educating myself about nutrition and then was so turned off and angry at what crap is in the food out there. That is where your anger should be focused on! Not the person who is trying to improve their health. Let's face it, women should be trying to help each other instead of destroying each other! But I just wanted to congratulate this young lady on her recent success and all those who are on the journey to improving their health. It does change your life and does give you so much confidence. The best part is...it's your own personal success and no one can take that from you!
Comment: Monday, May 19, 2008 1:53:00 AM - said...
Loved the article, congratulations on your weight lose. To the lady who said, "I'm a 14 and am healthy." You probably are and there is nothing wrong with that each of us have our own goals & reasons for what we're doing. I'm nearly 58 years old and for years wore a 10; surgery, menopause, etc. and I slowly climbed to 182 pounds last March. I went up & down with e-Diets seemed like I'd lose then I'd go up again; I was starting to outgrown my 16's. September 13th, my husband & I totally changed our lifestyle. We didn't go on a diet, we simply stopped eating fast food & beef to lower his cholestrol it did for me what nothing else has done. I am now 150 pounds & the 14's I bought last month are too lose so I just bought a size 12 for the first time in 12 years. I was excited as a child at Christmas when I hit that 14 but even more so now. We eat out, we drink wine, we live a normal life we simply eat healthier and his cholesterol is a 120 now rather than a 375 and he's wearing a size 32 waist which I think will go to a 30 soon. Whatever is right for you is good, this is right for us and we're happy. My husband is now in a maintenance time and I'm still losing; it hasn't been overnight for me but I know it will stay off. Congrats & good luck to all of you in achieving whatever you want to and have done so far.
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 12:56:00 AM - said...
hi there,
i am Gudi from Penang, Malaysia, I have a weight probelm from day one and have been on many diet programs but fail caused i have no will power please help me
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 1:45:00 AM - Alecia said...
To size 14 and healthy,it is not about your numeric pant size.When I was a 14 I was healthy and energetic,too.But it is how the weight fits on your personal body structure.The next sz 14 may be short or carrying all the weight around the middle,which can cause organ stress,backpain,troubled breathing,apnea,etc.At sz 14 I was medium heighth,muscular,and evenly distributed.Now at sz 20 I am having above problems some smaller sizes already are experiencing.NEVER compare numeric pant sizes,or become offended,YOUR cells and organs work uniquely with YOUR own body mass.What is fit for one can not be compared as fit for the next.Everyone's body is a unique blueprint.
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 4:15:00 AM - said...
There's nothing wrong in being a size 14 if you don't miserable, or fat and flubby like Alane. I have a size 14 and I'm not comfortable, so I liked the story very much and mean to imitate it.
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 7:54:00 AM - said...
I hate to say it, but to the anonymous woman, a size 14 really ISN't healthy. If you are even 5'7, which is pretty tall, you are above the the healthy range on a BMI scale. Maybe compared to the obsesity problem in the world it doesn't seem like much, but for your own health it does. Losing even 10% of your weight will have a SIGNIFICANT impact on the improvement of your life. And beyond that, really, why be offended, if you are happy to be overweight, fine, but make no mistake, 14 IS overweight, and most of us are NOT happy about that.
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 9:26:00 AM - said...
I totally agree with the commentor that said "what is wrong with a size 14?" Even though I am very happy for this woman and applaud her weight loss and determination, I was a little taken aback when I heard her talk about a size 14 as something that was awful! I am a size 14 now and even though I have to slim down, I don't think I am at an unhealthy size. I am healthy but need to firm up so exercise is the way to go for me -- everyone is different, as another commentor pointed out. I wish the people who tell their stories here make sure that the people reading them realize that what is right for them might not be right or true for others!
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 10:01:00 AM - said...
YOUR STORY WAS INSPIRING TO ME CAUSE I BEEN THERE AND KNOW HOW IT IS ,HOW PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU AND VIEW YOU WHEN YOUR OVERWEIGHT .YOU FEEL SO HELPLESS AT TIMES AND IT IS A DAILY STRUGGLE BUT WE MUST NOT GIVE UP WHEN WE FAIL WE HAVE TO PICK UP AND GO ON AGAIN BUT NEVER GIVE UP THANKS FOR YOUR STORY.IT HELPS MANY PEOPLE WE JUST NEED A ENCOURAGING WORD TO KEEP GOING ON.AND TO KNOW SOMEONE OUT THERE UNDERSTANDS THANKS.
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 10:08:00 AM - said...
HI I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRADULATION TO ALL WHO ARE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT .IT IS A DAILY STRUGGLE AND PEOPLE ARE LOOK DOWN ON WHEN YOU ARE OVERWEIGHT.BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP ON GOING AND TRY OUR BEST TO REACH OUR GOAL AT OUR PASTE NOT WHAT OTHERS VIEW US AS.GOOD LUCK OUT THERE EVERYONE WE ALL NEED AND ENCOURAGING WORD TO FINISH OUR GOAL TO HAVE A HEALTHY LIFE STYLE.
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 1:27:00 PM - Rin said...
To everyone who is offended...
Come on, now. I don't think this article is written in an offensive way at all. They are going by one person's experience of how she felt, and her journey. They are not saying that YOU are fat.
But to all the overweight people out there, maybe you should stop getting offended and really take a look at yourself. It's beautiful to love your own body and it's shape, and society's standard on what is a beautiful shape is still rather on the "too skinny" side. However, overweight and obesity is happening at an alarming weight. At the very least get your overall physical health checked. And make some positive changes to your diet and lifestyle and you WILL see change. You may feel better and even MORE confident than you do right now, rockin your size 14.
It also really depends on her height. When I was a size 14, I was unable to climb the stairs or dance at a club or dash for a bus (at age 24!!). My back hurt, I was uncomfortable, and I looked terrible! But I was also 175 pounds at 5 foot 2. Dropping 40 pounds was the best thing I ever did.
Has anyone noticed that pant sizes really change depending on manufacturer as well? Not all size 14 (or 10 or 6) are the same across the board. I don't understand this as a way to define yourself.
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 1:59:00 PM - said...
I think people are getting caught up in "size 14 and happy's" comment. One writer noted size is but a number and how we carry our weight is what matters. I can't agree more. I have recently lost 40 lbs and want to lose that much more to reach a healthy weight and body size. At size 14 I would be "the perfect weight" at 6'2" for a woman. My goal is be a size 14/16. I have been there and looked good and felt good. So let's not throw stones about sizes.It all comes down to being healthy and feeling good about ourselves. I am in my 40's with diabetes (27 yrs) and coronary heart disease to name a few conditions. Bottom line for me: Being healthy and living longer. Being here for my family means everything. I lost my mom and sister at very young ages (51 and 40 respectively). They were over weight and had same health history as myself. Difference being, I have the knowledge and tools they didn't have access to 30 years ago. Best wishes to anyone embarking on a weight loss/life style change. It is a hard road but one worth taking.
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 3:24:00 PM - said...
First of all - I applaud your success! I find the clothing sz comments very interesting. I happen to own a sz 12 pr of pants from 20 yrs ago - they fit tighter than a pr of sz 6 purchased 5 yrs ago. I have purchased patterns to make my own clothes - you'll want to look at each measurement because size doesn't matter! I'm learning weight doesn't matter either - the scales read less when I don't exercise, but I feel better, firmer & have more energy when I do. And best when I eat well and exercise. I can't control my results but I can my activities.
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 3:57:00 PM - said...
Congratulations! Good for you. Depending on your height size 14 mignt be a good healthy size. I'm 5'2" tall and 14 is not a good size for me! It's all about where you carry the weight and your HEIGHT!!!
Comment: Monday, June 16, 2008 6:05:00 PM - said...
ok ladies...here's the truth...yes, you can be overweight and still be confident and comfortable with who you are and how you look...however, after a while the extra weight takes it's toll on your health....high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, arhritis, strombosis, oseoporosis, i could go on forever......5'2" and 175 at 24 yrs. old will soon become 5' 0" and 240 at 34, specially after bearing children!!!!.....now, pay attention......do you want to be around to see your children graduate from highschool????...if not, then go for it...be as fat and confident as you like!!!!!..
Comment: Thursday, July 03, 2008 9:56:00 AM - said...
I need to add to the comment regarding today's size 12 being tighter than a size 6 from 5 years ago. This is absolutely true! While cleaning my garage last summer, I happened upon some old Sears catalogs. My sister and I had a good laugh about some old styles, but we also noticed the sizes in the old catalog. Back then I wore a 14 which is now a size 8, which means today's sizes are 6 sizes smaller than 20 years ago. No wonder obesity is such a problem...the clothing industry reduces the size number to make people think they are still small when in reality they are larger. So the best thing anyone can do is have a physical and let your doctor tell you how healthy you are. Then take it from there.
Comment: Saturday, July 05, 2008 12:57:00 AM - said...
It's sad that a good story can be tainted because some choose to be offended. With the same choice, you could have chose to be uplifted but no you took a negative route. Now everyone wants to comment on the size 12 comment. Being a trainer, I find that when a person says they are healthy, that they don't really use a real measurement to make that statement. Most think just because their doctor haven't told them they have an ailment that their healthy, which is far from the truth. If you REGULARLY eat a balanced meals(meaning it has a variety of nutrition) and eat often and eat plenty of veggies, fruit and fiber and can strength train with at least half your weight in various exercises movement with little difficulty and able run a mile outside in less than 15 minutes then I would say your health is good. The body will transform accordingly with the right formula without you watching a scale or pants size. We glorify athletes but they are no different than us. We live in a lazy world and if we continue to overlook this FACT, many more will suffer in our life time. We live in a world that many are dying because they think they are healthy. So why waste energy talking about being offended. Keep using the proven formula of eating what comes from the earth and staying busy. If you do this your body will tell you where you should be regarding size.
Comment: Saturday, July 05, 2008 8:01:00 AM - said...
Hi, I think your weight loss is terrific. I happen to be a 14 and after taking off weight to get to this size, I am proud of it. Of course I need to get busy and get back down to the 8 I should be but I do feel great right now. I think the important thing to remember is we should strive to be healthy and feel confident. Generally, if we have been overweight we understand what that does to our self-confidence. As we lose weight, we feel our self confidence go up. I have found there is an inverse relationship between my weight and my self confidence. As my weight goes down, my self confidence increases and that is what is attractive. I feel great and I am never ever going to allow anyone or anything destroy my self-confidence again. I am anxious to get moving on losing the rest of my wight though.
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.
Comment: Monday, July 21, 2008 3:47:00 PM - said...
While I was not offended by the size 14 thing I am offended by the society that has size 12 - 14 as plus sizes. I am only 5'5" but my bone structure size will not let me wear anything smaller than a size 12 but mostly size 14. My shoulders are too broad; my bust is too large to wear anything smaller.
Comment: Thursday, August 07, 2008 8:41:00 PM - said...
Hi, Alane here. Interesting the ruckus that gets stirred up when people mention clothing sizes. Thanks for all your comments. Sure, clothing sizes have definitely changed over the years. I have a size 10 skirt from 1991 that I still can't quite fit back into yet. So the fact that I'm wearing 4s, 6s, and 8s now should tell you that clothing manufacturers vary considerably. What I was going by was how I looked in photos, how my clothing felt, my BMI, my body measurements, and the number on the scale. First off, I'm 5'4" tall with a small/medium frame. (No one in my dad's family is taller than 5'7"!) My BMI was near 30 at my upper weight range - definitely in the overweight range, and it affected my sleep/snoring, my asthma, my knees, my back, my shoulders, neck - after two cardio-thoracic surgeries, I hurt all over. Losing the weight was critical for me, and for my post-surgical healing.
Being in NYC, the modeling and beauty capital of the world, as a single woman, you are judged more harshly for your looks. That's simply how it is. It made me uncomfortable in my skin. (I was also using the weight to disguise myself, to hide out.) In addition to being a design student and legal secretary, I'm also a singer, and my career has had a sudden resurgence in the past 8 months -- yes, since I hit goal weight. Much as I wanted to deny it before I did it, losing weight has made huge changes in my life, in my health, in my energy level, and in my confidence level. I recently met an amazing, wonderful man, and I don't think I would have had the confidence at 170+ to flirt with him or ask him to swing dance with me. Heck, at 170+, I couldn't swing dance! I tired too quickly and became asthmatic.
It's a personal journey, and it's different for each of us. My athletic friend (who is solid muscle at 5'9") wears a size 12, weighs in the 160s and looks phenomenal. I feel great now that I'm back to my grad school size -- regardless of the number. (It was an 8-10 back then.) It's about what's right for you. If your height and weight put you in a healthy BMI, then you're at the right weight. If not, then think about doing something about it. I HAD to.
Comment: Sunday, August 10, 2008 3:34:00 PM - said...
Way to go, you beautiful woman, you!!! Now I can say, I knew you when. :D Love ya! Drop me a line...I'm at the same email.
Comment: Sunday, August 10, 2008 4:54:00 PM - said...
To each his/her own. A personal journey comes form personal experiences. Each event in our lives makes us psychologically and shapes us physically and uniquely.There is no right or wrong weight to each individual personality,but if you use medical models and genetics then each of us can individually conclude what is medically right and healthy for ourselves. Emotionally,that is something different.
Comment: Monday, August 11, 2008 9:26:00 AM - said...
I read the whole article with a critical eye, and did not see anything to be offended about. I was surprised by the debate, b/c it created an interesting question for me: For those that are offended and like yourself at a size 14, why are you on eDiets?
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