Laura and Susie, both from the Jersey shore, lost 30 and 20 pounds by walking together five times a week, preplanning meals using a prepared-food program, and doing a motivation check-in for the weekend.
Walking and talking: "We do a 1.6-mile loop around the local reservoir and talk about everything from relationships to parenting," Susie says. "We mix up the time of day, depending on the weather and work schedules. If we're feeling ambitious, we'll do two loops, a four-mile walk along a local boardwalk, or a five-mile loop around a different reservoir. And we always high-five before or after the walk to celebrate our progress."
Food fix: "I used to eat a lot of fast food, and I had no discipline with portions (I'd down a bag of potato chips while watching a movie)," Susie says. "My confidence was gone, and my energy was at an all-time low. One day in the spring of 2015, I looked in the mirror and said, "I have to do something." So I tried Nutrisystem to help me reset my portions. Each month, I purchased the prepackaged meals at Walmart. Now I eat oatmeal, egg whites, a banana with almond butter, salads, grilled chicken, beans, avocado, broth-based soups, and zucchini noodles. I feel like I'm finally in control, because I've learned how to make smart choices."
Partners in health: "We call each other every Friday to discuss our weekend plans and how we're going to stay on track," Susie says. "We text each other inspirational quotes once a week, like 'Stay patient and trust your journey.'"