Before: 170
After: 122
Program used: eDiets

Marilyn Crane’s first job out of college, working for a nonprofit in Washington, D.C., expanded her mind — and, well, some other body parts. “I had a 60-hour workweek, so I ate a lot of fattening takeout,” she recalls. And though she was a vegetarian, her diet was anything but healthy: A typical snack was a large bag of tortilla chips dunked in cheese dip.

By her late 20s, Marilyn — who is 5-foot-4 — hit 170 lbs. She was mortified by her size. “On the bus ride to work, I would compare myself to the other women and feel horrible because they were all so tiny,” she says. “Then little things started to happen: One day my skirt split, and another day I realized I had to buy clothing in a size 14 for the first time.” That’s when she decided: I have to take back control.

A Balanced Plan

So, in December 2003, the 30-year-old joined eDiets, an online weight-loss service that offers several eating plans, including one for vegetarians. She learned to tweak her diet, whipping up veggie burgers for dinner rather than giant bowls of spaghetti. Almost instantly, the balanced, nutritious meals put an end to Marilyn’s early-evening energy crashes. In fact, she felt better all around.

Soon, Marilyn realized it wasn’t just her menu that needed an overhaul. For too long, she had surrounded herself with catty friends who left her feeling bad about herself. Now that she was transforming her body, she was ready to give her social life a makeover, too. She eased away from the spirit squelchers and made a fresh start with the positive friends she met through the eDiets message boards.

“When I started the program, I had just gotten out of a bad relationship. My diet buddies understood that I was upset, but they didn’t let me use it as an excuse to eat,” says Marilyn. “And later, when my mother had a heart attack, they reminded me that I didn’t need to turn to food because I was feeling sad and stressed.” Their advice yielded instant dividends: After just two weeks on the program, Marilyn had shed more than 10 lbs.

Crossing the Finish Line

Inspired by the quick results — and cheered by her mother’s recovery — Marilyn started amping up her workout. She hit the elliptical machine four or five times a week. “I had a knee injury in high school, so for years I avoided exercise,” she says. “I used to have excuses for everything, but my friends on eDiets helped me get over old hang-ups.” As the months passed, people at work started to notice the change in Marilyn — and not just the obvious one. “When Marilyn made decisions around the office, she had a new level of authority in her voice,” says her friend and co-worker Michelle Kudrin. “And because of her newfound confidence, she was dating a lot — no more lonely nights with a bag of chips!”

By summer, Marilyn had shed 48 lbs. and hit her goal weight of 122. She knew that to keep her new figure, she needed a new goal — plus, her exercise routine was starting to feel stale. Some of her friends from eDiets had signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon, and they convinced Marilyn to give it a try. Marilyn loved the camaraderie of group training sessions. She also appreciated having some me time during the long runs, free from distractions like books or the television. “It’s like meditation,” she says. “I feel a lot more connected to nature, and it gives me this general sense of well-being.”

The months of training paid off in October 2005 when Marilyn, now a size 4, completed the Marine Corps Marathon. (Mom was so proud!) “I was almost too tired to feel anything when I crossed the finish line, but at that moment the enormity of how far I’d come did hit me,” she says. “When I was heavier, I had a friend who was training for a marathon, and I said, ‘Oh, you’re crazy,’ but really, I was so envious and dreamed about being able to do it, too. Losing weight led to one of the most meaningful accomplishments of my life. I can’t wait to sign up for my next marathon!”