Weight-Loss Winners

Melanie Reames

Melanie Reames, age 31

Melanie lost: 20 pounds
Starting weight: 191
Current weight: 171

Reames decided to shed her post-baby pounds by using the "mindful eating" technique: paying more attention to feelings of hunger and fullness and focusing only on her food at mealtime. "I used to read the paper or watch TV when I ate," she admits. Without those distractions, Reames feels fuller sooner and she has noticed she's not snacking as much as she used to.

To fit exercise into her busy schedule, she pushes her son in a jogging stroller, exercises during her lunch break, or hits the gym after her son goes to bed. "That can be hard because I'm tired, but once I get there my energy level picks up," says Reames, who now runs 20 to 25 miles a week. Besides her shrinking size, she's got another goal keeping her motivated: She signed up to run a marathon this spring.