Weight-Loss Tips That Work From a Viewer Who Lost 250 Pounds

Annamarie, a viewer from Naugatuck, CT, wrote a letter to Rachael to share some pretty incredible news.

After seeing our makeovers, weight loss transformations and other health and fitness segments featured on our show, Annamarie finally decided that if other people could do it, so could she.

"I never thought I could wear a size 6, but your show motivated me and now I am," she wrote. "I would love the chance to show you what I've learned — and thank you."

Of course, Rach invited her to come on the show and share her inspiring weight-loss journey.

Check out how amazing she looks!

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For Annamarie, it was all about staying motivated and reminding herself what she was working toward and why. Altogether, she lost almost 250 pounds over about 6 years. "I actually lost more than I weigh now," she shares.

"In all honesty, your mind is first," she says. "If I didn't have my mind made up to start, then I wouldn't be where I am today."

Here are Annamarie's top three tips for staying committed to your health and achieving your goals.

1. Use Your Phone To Hold Yourself Accountable

"On your weight-loss journey, I always say the biggest thing is to hold yourself accountable," Annamarie says. "Always remember why you started."

She suggests keeping a before picture in a place where you'll see it often — such as your desk at work, your car, your fridge or as your phone's wallpaper.

Chances are, you're constantly checking your phone anyway — so why not put that habit to good use? Annamarie set her before photo as her phone's background. Every time she saw it, she was reminded of why she started trying to change her lifestyle, she says.

2. Keep Visual Reminders of Your Progress

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Another tip? Hold onto your before clothes, she says. It's another visual representation of why you started and how far you've come.

"It gives you hope and motivation to keep pushing forward," Annamarie says.

3. Write + Display Motivational Quotes

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It might sound silly, but even the smallest daily reminder can encourage you to keep it up. Annamarie wrote inspirational quotes on Post-it notes and kept them all over the house, from her bedside table to her bathroom. She also had them at work, in the car, on her gym bag and really any place she could think of where she knew she'd see them.