They lost weight – you can, too!

iReport
Updated 10:16 AM EDT, Fri June 7, 2013
If you're in need of some inspiration to tackle your weight loss goal, look no further. CNN regularly profiles people who have lost a significant amount of weight. See their physical transformations by clicking through the gallery, then get started on your own. When you hit your goal weight, we <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/1341">want to hear about it</a>.
They got fit -- you can, too! —
If you're in need of some inspiration to tackle your weight loss goal, look no further. CNN regularly profiles people who have lost a significant amount of weight. See their physical transformations by clicking through the gallery, then get started on your own. When you hit your goal weight, we want to hear about it.
CNN/Bryan Perry
For years, Bryan Ganey worked the night shift, binging on fast food and soda for breakfast, lunch and dinner. By 37, he had a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/25/health/weight-loss-profile-bryan-ganey">body mass index of 87</a> (anything more than 30 is considered obese). Then a pulmonary embolism changed his life. <a href="http://ganeybypass.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">He says he's lost 370 pounds</a>.
Bryan Ganey —
For years, Bryan Ganey worked the night shift, binging on fast food and soda for breakfast, lunch and dinner. By 37, he had a body mass index of 87 (anything more than 30 is considered obese). Then a pulmonary embolism changed his life. He says he's lost 370 pounds.
Courtesy Bryan Ganey
Darrin Cook grew up in New Orleans, where food was the center of his family's life. After evacuating for Hurricane Katrina, food became a comfort and a reminder of home. At his heaviest, Cook weighed 390 pounds. Between 2006 and 2010, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/30/health/weight-new-orleans-darrin-cook">he lost 175 pounds</a>. Cook now weighs 240.
Darrin Cook —
Darrin Cook grew up in New Orleans, where food was the center of his family's life. After evacuating for Hurricane Katrina, food became a comfort and a reminder of home. At his heaviest, Cook weighed 390 pounds. Between 2006 and 2010, he lost 175 pounds. Cook now weighs 240.
Courtesy Darrin Cook
Michelle Jackson was terrified to turn 40 in 2013, fearing that a slowing metabolism would prevent her from ever getting healthy. Determined to take control, she <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/31/health/fitness-before-forty-weight-loss/index.html">dropped 100 pounds</a> in less than two years and has continued to maintain her weight loss. Even her 10-year-old son has been inspired to pick up healthier habits.
Michelle Jackson —
Michelle Jackson was terrified to turn 40 in 2013, fearing that a slowing metabolism would prevent her from ever getting healthy. Determined to take control, she dropped 100 pounds in less than two years and has continued to maintain her weight loss. Even her 10-year-old son has been inspired to pick up healthier habits.
Courtesy Michelle Jackson
Mark Rucker's friends call him <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/10/health/rucker-weight-loss-race">"The Beast"</a> for a reason. Since February 2011 -- while dropping 100 pounds -- he's participated in a 5K, a 10K, a half-marathon, a marathon and an Ironman competition.
Mark Rucker —
Mark Rucker's friends call him "The Beast" for a reason. Since February 2011 -- while dropping 100 pounds -- he's participated in a 5K, a 10K, a half-marathon, a marathon and an Ironman competition.
Courtesy Mark Rucker
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/05/health/drew-manning-fit2fat2fit-lessons/index.html">Drew Manning's story</a> shocked America. The fitness trainer purposely put on 70 pounds last year, only to drop it all in six months. Manning said his goal was to understand better what his clients were going through as they struggled to lose weight.
Drew Manning —
Drew Manning's story shocked America. The fitness trainer purposely put on 70 pounds last year, only to drop it all in six months. Manning said his goal was to understand better what his clients were going through as they struggled to lose weight.
Courtesy Drew Manning
Jordan Teuscher convinced his whole family to join the HealthyWage challenge. They lost a combined 255 pounds and <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/19/health/cash-family-weight-loss/index.html">won $10,000</a>.
The Teuscher family —
Jordan Teuscher convinced his whole family to join the HealthyWage challenge. They lost a combined 255 pounds and won $10,000.
Courtesy Jordan Teuscher
Marriage, any good therapist will tell you, is a balancing act. For Angela and Willie Gillis, the act is easy. They've been best friends for more than 10 years and married for three. They say their individual strengths balance the other's weaknesses. They credit this sense of balance with helping them lose a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/22/health/gillis-weight-loss-couple/index.html">combined 500 pounds</a>.
The Gillises —
Marriage, any good therapist will tell you, is a balancing act. For Angela and Willie Gillis, the act is easy. They've been best friends for more than 10 years and married for three. They say their individual strengths balance the other's weaknesses. They credit this sense of balance with helping them lose a combined 500 pounds.
Courtesy Angela Gillis
LaVerne Hart gave her daughter two pieces of advice before succumbing to the cancer that had spread throughout her body. "Save money. Lose weight." Cherie Hart Steffen says her mother's words are forever etched into her brain. Since then, she's <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/12/health/cherie-steffen-weight-loss/index.html">lost 85 pounds</a>.
Cherie Hart Steffen —
LaVerne Hart gave her daughter two pieces of advice before succumbing to the cancer that had spread throughout her body. "Save money. Lose weight." Cherie Hart Steffen says her mother's words are forever etched into her brain. Since then, she's lost 85 pounds.
Courtesy Cherie Hart Steffen
After her college roommate died in 2009, Jacki Monaco treated her depression with junk food. Over the next two years, she gained 100 pounds. In 2011, she was diagnosed with binge eating disorder. She learned how to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/24/health/jacki-monaco-weight-loss/index.html">have a healthy relationship with food</a> and has since dropped 70 pounds.
Jacki Monaco —
After her college roommate died in 2009, Jacki Monaco treated her depression with junk food. Over the next two years, she gained 100 pounds. In 2011, she was diagnosed with binge eating disorder. She learned how to have a healthy relationship with food and has since dropped 70 pounds.
Courtesy Jacki Monaco
Marcelo Cedeno <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-967649">lost more than 50 pounds</a> after a friend told him he was "unconciously hurting himself" with his unhealthy eating habits. Cedeno started working out for an hour a day and made smarter food choices to drop the weight.
Marcelo Cedeno —
Marcelo Cedeno lost more than 50 pounds after a friend told him he was "unconciously hurting himself" with his unhealthy eating habits. Cedeno started working out for an hour a day and made smarter food choices to drop the weight.
Courtesy Marcelo Cedeno
Melissa Schaaf thought <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/26/health/schaaf-weight-loss-cancer/index.html">losing 80 pounds</a> would be her biggest battle until she was diagnosed with stage I leiomyosarcoma. Schaaf says her gym and healthy eating habits helped get her through chemotherapy.
Melissa Schaaf —
Melissa Schaaf thought losing 80 pounds would be her biggest battle until she was diagnosed with stage I leiomyosarcoma. Schaaf says her gym and healthy eating habits helped get her through chemotherapy.
Courtesy Melissa Schaaf
The doctor had flat out told Dale Benzine: "Lose weight or die." Benzine decided to get gastric bypass surgery, reducing his stomach to the size of a golf ball. He's <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/17/health/dale-benzine-bariatric-surgery/index.html">dropped 130 pounds</a> by eating small, healthy portions multiple times a day.
Dale Benzine —
The doctor had flat out told Dale Benzine: "Lose weight or die." Benzine decided to get gastric bypass surgery, reducing his stomach to the size of a golf ball. He's dropped 130 pounds by eating small, healthy portions multiple times a day.
Courtesy Dale Benzine
At her heaviest in March 2011, Theresa Borawski weighed 428 pounds. "I could no longer participate in life's activities and was forced to become a spectator while people around me lived their life," she wrote on iReport.com. "Today, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/10/health/borawski-weight-loss-irpt/index.html">I am 276 pounds lighter</a>, 14 jean sizes smaller, and no longer need a wheelchair, walker or cane to get around."
Theresa Borawski —
At her heaviest in March 2011, Theresa Borawski weighed 428 pounds. "I could no longer participate in life's activities and was forced to become a spectator while people around me lived their life," she wrote on iReport.com. "Today, I am 276 pounds lighter, 14 jean sizes smaller, and no longer need a wheelchair, walker or cane to get around."
Courtesy Theresa Borawski
At 310 pounds, Deidre Robinson knew she'd have restrictions at the theme park, but that didn't make her feel any less humiliated when she was told she couldn't ride the roller coaster with her daughter. Less than two years later, Robinson had dropped more than half her body weight -- going from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/03/health/weight-loss-fitness-studio/index.html">a size 24 to a size 2</a>.
Deidre Robinson —
At 310 pounds, Deidre Robinson knew she'd have restrictions at the theme park, but that didn't make her feel any less humiliated when she was told she couldn't ride the roller coaster with her daughter. Less than two years later, Robinson had dropped more than half her body weight -- going from a size 24 to a size 2.
Courtesy Deidre Robinson
They lost weight -- so can you!
CNN  —