They lost weight -- so can you!

Updated 1323 GMT (2123 HKT) December 23, 2013

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If you need 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>.

Photos: They lost weight -- so can you!

They got fit -- you can, too! – If you need 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.

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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>.

Photos: They lost weight -- so can you!

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.

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Brittni Garcia's family enjoyed watching movies, playing board games and eating big Mexican-style meals. But this sorority girl ditched her unhealthy lifestyle for the gym, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/20/health/irpt-garcia-weight-loss/index.html">losing 107 pounds</a>.

Photos: They lost weight -- so can you!

Brittni Garcia – Brittni Garcia's family enjoyed watching movies, playing board games and eating big Mexican-style meals. But this sorority girl ditched her unhealthy lifestyle for the gym, losing 107 pounds.

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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>.

Photos: They lost weight -- so can you!

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.

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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."

Photos: They lost weight -- so can you!

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."

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Marlon Gibson went from 405 pounds to 160 pounds by <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/09/health/weight-loss-marlon-gibson/index.html">following the "three P's."</a> Now he does two 70-minute spinning class back-to-back without breaking (much of) a sweat.

Photos: They lost weight -- so can you!

Marlon Gibson – Marlon Gibson went from 405 pounds to 160 pounds by following the "three P's." Now he does two 70-minute spinning class back-to-back without breaking (much of) a sweat.

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In February 2012, Justin and Lauren Shelton began a 19-month journey to take control of their health. The couple <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/14/health/weight-loss-sheltons/index.html">lost a combined 538 pounds</a> by overhauling their diets and hitting the gym.

Photos: They lost weight -- so can you!

The Sheltons – In February 2012, Justin and Lauren Shelton began a 19-month journey to take control of their health. The couple lost a combined 538 pounds by overhauling their diets and hitting the gym.

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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.

Photos: They lost weight -- so can you!

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.

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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.

Photos: They lost weight -- so can you!

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.

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Ryan "Mac" McDonald's friends and family describe him as a teddy bear: charismatic, gentle and unassuming. Until a few years ago, the description was also fitting for his size. Then this stay-at-home dad decided to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/29/health/mac-weight-loss/index.html">lose 300 pounds in less than three years</a>.

Photos: They lost weight -- so can you!

Ryan 'Mac' McDonald – Ryan "Mac" McDonald's friends and family describe him as a teddy bear: charismatic, gentle and unassuming. Until a few years ago, the description was also fitting for his size. Then this stay-at-home dad decided to lose 300 pounds in less than three years.

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At 310 pounds, Deidre Robinson knew she'd have restrictions at a 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>.

Photos: They lost weight -- so can you!

Deidre Robinson – At 310 pounds, Deidre Robinson knew she'd have restrictions at a 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.

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