Weight-loss makeovers! How six women lost nearly 200 pounds

Outsmart menopause belly

Who: Sue Marteleira, 50
She lost: 23 pounds (as of publish date this number is now more than 30 pounds!)

Before: Chatelaine's own Sue Marteleira turned the countdown to her 50th birthday into a weight-loss incentive.

The goal: Six months before her 50th birthday, Sue decided to focus on what she really wanted: more energy, an hourglass figure and control over her menopause symptoms. With her twin daughters grown and out of the house, Sue says, "I felt this was my time." And that became her weight-loss mantra. "Becoming the me I always wanted to be was a personal goal I wasn't willing to fail at."

The game plan: Sue signed up for a customized program that included a doctor, a naturopath and a life coach to reach her weight and menopause-management goals. Daily early-morning workouts (45 minutes) were essential for the once exercise-averse Sue to wake up her metabolism. For extra support, she built a community with gym regulars.

The challenge: She's still working on drinking more water throughout the day and getting more than her usual four to five hours of zees.

The result: "As I got stronger and more confident, I became kinder to myself." Sue says she walks taller now and takes pride in her appearance. She's ditched her nightly microwave meals, too.

Her secret:
1. New pyjamas: "I sleep in my workout wear so I can roll out of bed and hit the gym."
2. Super seeds: "Gluten-free, high-fibre chia seeds mixed into Greek yogurt make such a satisfying snack."
3. Smart prep: "I cook for the week every Sunday afternoon, preparing lentils, quinoa, edamame beans and grilled vegetables."
4. Barry Manilow: "Nothing powers me through a workout like the feel-good Latin beats of 'Copacobana.'"
5. Core power: "My ab exercises have also given me new-found inner strength."

Slimming solutions:
Chatelaine health adviser Dr. Elaine Chin takes the guesswork out of weight loss with her customized approach. These are her weight-management tips for every decade.

30s: Prioritize healthy eating and regular exercise (especially if you didn't in your 20s). Strength train for strong bones.

40s: Outsmart hormonal fluctuations by reducing animal proteins and increasing vegetarian ones. Dining out? Choose wine or the breadbasket. Not both.

50s and beyond: Address hormonal changes in holistic ways, and you'll naturally manage your weight, too.

For more from Chin on how to take charge of life's changes and keep weight off for good, click here.

Rediscover your pre-baby body and energy levels

Who: Kimberly Angel, 38
She lost: 30 pounds

Before: Kimberly Angel, a stay-at-home mom, was struggling to hit her pre-baby weight after having her son.

The goal: Kimberly wanted her mojo back. She was tired of being tired — and she wanted to keep up with her bouncing baby boy, six-month-old Emilio. "Deep down I knew I had to change to see change," says Kim. "I also knew I couldn't do it on my own."

The game plan: Kimberly arranged for daycare to coincide with weekday workouts and found a sensible nutrition plan she could follow.

The challenge: After the first few days, she felt doubtful. "It's hard when you don't see immediate results, but I knew it was a process," she says. So Kim got competitive with herself. "Failure wasn't an option for me." She credits her success to sticking to a schedule, planning ahead and being honest about her food choices.

The result: Now Kimberly weighs less than she did on her wedding day. "It's amazing how learning to believe in yourself changes everything," she says. Beyond the scale, she sees exercise as an investment with huge returns (she can run after speedy Emilio), and she's happier than she ever thought possible. "It's empowering to feel so in control again."

Her secret:
1. Royal dining: "Eat a big brekkie like a king, medium lunch like a prince and a light dinner like a pauper."
2. Ancient grains: "Protein-packed quinoa and spelt make me feel fuller longer."
3. Routine exercise: "I strength train and do the elliptical four to five times a week for 45 minutes."
4. Green smoothies: "I blend yogurt, skim milk, protein powder, fruit and spinach before my workouts."
5. Being aggressive: "At first I approached my workouts delicately, without confidence. I saw results when I started to push harder."

Diet makeover:
Nutritionist Dr. Joey Shulman knows how to get results because she's been there: Joey lost 75 pounds — and kept it off. Here's how:

1. Balance blood sugar. Nix processed foods; they spike insulin, which promotes cravings and stubborn belly fat.
2. Power up with protein at every meal.
3. Time out. Cut grains after 3 p.m.
4. Record it. A journal holds you accountable.
5. Avoid added sugar. Conquer a sweet tooth with herbal teas or chewable vitamin C.
6. Think calorie-light, not low-fat. Good fats (the unsaturated and essential kinds) won't add pounds.
7. Go green. Two cups of green tea may rev up metabolism.
8. Repeat! It's the only way to turn changes into lifelong habits.

Get Dr. Joey's seven day meal plan here.

Kick emotional eating to the curb for good!

Who: Jennifer Gomes, 55
She lost: 23 pounds

Before: Jennifer Gomes, a marketing communications specialist, sought stress relief with food.

The goal: Six years ago, Jennifer quit smoking and turned to food. "My weight slowly crept up to 203 pounds," she says. "I bought bigger clothes instead of addressing the real problem: I'd come home from working looking for comfort foods." Soon she was dealing with crippling fatigue and joint pain. "Something had to give. I wanted to quit my unhealthy relationship with food."

The game plan: A support network — nutritionist, trainer and her daughter, Leanne — helped Jen stay on track. "First I had to clean up my diet. Platefuls of white rice weren't doing me any favours." She ditched refined carbs and stabilized her insulin levels with portion control and high-fibre yogurt parfaits for breakfast. The weight dropped off and so did her joint inflammation. That meant she could exercise (lots of Zumba and cycling) pain-free.

The challenge: Jen hit a stubborn plateau but plans to shift 40 more pounds by December. "With a little extra work I know I can do it."

The result: Jennifer recently wore a dress (for the first time in 10 years!) to her great-niece's baptism. "When I slipped into that beautiful floral dress that I'd wanted to wear for years, I felt so proud," she says.

Her secret:
1. Switch it up: "I try to tweak my habits on a daily basis to become a healthier me."
2. Power hour: "I go for a long walk on my lunch hour at work. Every little bit helps!"
3. No p.m. carbs: "I eat whole grains early in the day, so I can work them off later."
4. Two-snack attack: "Small snacks between my main meals keep my metabolism fired up."
5. Cook with company: "Preparing food with my daughter keeps me on the right track."
6. Measure up: "Use a cup for portion control."

Total-body toning:
Personal trainer Stephanie Joanne believes in making fitness fun. Commit to a new routine for 90 days, and you'll change more than your waistline.

1. Make time. Mark workouts in your calendar like you would an appointment. Always plan ahead.
2. Focus on shrinking body-fat percentage, not the number on the scale.
3. Quickly condition with compound moves, like squats and curls.
4. Transform into a calorie-burning powerhouse with weight training. It builds lean muscle fast.
5. Push a little harder each time to avoid hitting a plateau. It's good to go outside your comfort zone.
6. Don't obsess about the end result. Learn to love the journey and enjoy the workout, and you'll put yourself on the road to lifelong fitness.

Dropping the pregnancy pounds

After these three sisters had babies, they came together to overcome their challenges and drop the weight they'd put on having their children.

Who: Brittany Robbescheuten (left)
She lost: 20 pounds

Before: The exercise enthusiast, 25, found quick comfort in junk food after her daughter arrived.

The goal: Brittany exercised throughout her pregnancy, and although she didn't put on much weight while carrying her daughter, after Shea was born Brit was too tired to eat healthy. She wanted to quit her junk food habit and knew she could do it with her sisters for support.

The game plan: Working out wasn't a problem for Brit (she enjoys circuit and strength training and spin classes four times a week), but she had to get into the habit of stocking up on healthy snacks she could eat on the go.

The challenge: Timing her meals. Brit discovered she was eating the right foods at the wrong times. "I thought fruit all day was great, but it was spiking my blood sugar, making it nearly impossible to lose weight."

The result: Brittany learned how to make better food choices. In the past, if she gave in to a craving, it would derail her efforts to eat well for the day. Now she listens to her body. She also realized she gets better results using the buddy system. "I couldn't ever have done this without the support of my sisters."

Who: Cory Acosta (middle)
She lost: 40 pounds

Before: Acosta, 36, a tattoo-parlour owner, had trouble dropping her baby weight after her second child.

The goal: Last year, Cory and her sisters Rebecca and Brittany gave birth within six weeks of each other. "The pregnancy weight just wasn't coming off," says Cory. When her youngest sister suggested they lose the baby weight together, Cory jumped at the chance. "It was finally a push in the right direction and a relief that I could do it alongside people I trust and love."

The game plan: Cory cut processed foods from her diet. "My nutritionist said the faster it goes from the ground to the grocer, the better," says Cory. She also ended her love affair with white bread. "It was easy. I enjoyed the new flavour of fresh foods."

The challenge: Cory's not a fan of the gym, but she learned to work exercise in by using fitness DVDs at home.

The result: Cory's weight loss brought her even closer to her husband. "He's always been a health nut. Now we're more compatible with our meals," she says. She wants to lose a little more weight, and a pair of 'goal jeans' in her closet is just the incentive she needs. "I can't wait to fit into them!"

Who: Rebecca Jean-Paul (right)
She lost: 60 pounds

Before: While she was pregnant with her son, Raiden, the 27-year-old had a weight gain of 60 pounds.

The goal: Rebecca put on way more weight than she anticipated with her first pregnancy. "My weight climbed from 111 to 171 pounds, and it was more than my petite frame could handle." She knew it was time for a change when she stopped recognizing herself in the mirror.

The game plan: Cutting sugar out of her diet and stepping up her exercise program with hour-long cardio and weight training three times a week.

The challenge: Conquering her sweet tooth — "I'd eat a big bag of wine gums a night, easy," says Rebecca. Instead, she found her fix in fruit and chocolate-banana protein shakes. "Within six weeks, I stopped craving candy for the first time in my life. I credit it to having protein at every meal."

The result: Rebecca cried at Chatelaine's photo shoot. "I finally looked like me again," she says. Now she prioritizes her health and says she realizes it's not selfish to work out and eat well. Her household subscribes to a clean diet, with lean proteins, whole grains and vegetables. Best of all, she says, "I've got my confidence back."

Dressing on a diet: Style expert Lynn Spence's top tips
1. Pick tailored pieces with a bit of stretch.
2. Shop with your BFF. She'll notice your weight loss before you do.
3. Walk taller. Thicker heels are super-flattering.
4. Shape up with shapewear. It keeps you confident (and your clothes from clinging).
5. Supersize your accessories. Bold statement necklaces, bangles and watches add structure and balance.

Read about how our fitness expert James Fell lost weight and learned to embrace a healthy lifestyle.