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"         Names: Identical twins Jean Higgerson and Jane Yates Location: Kewanee, MO Worst of times: Jean: 200 pounds Jane: 185 pounds Best of times: Jean: 126 pounds Jane: 130 pounds Our turning point: Jean: My sister had already lost 55 pounds, and for our next family picture, I didn&amp;#039;t want to be photographed next to her looking so much heavier! Jane: Diabetes runs in my family, so I knew I needed to lose weight for health reasons. Our slim-down techniques: Jean and Jane: We counted calories and kept a daily food journal listing everything we ate. We also drank tons of water and tried to stay away from high-fat foods. Kept the weight off: Jean: Five months so far Jane: Two years Our best motivator: Jean and Jane: Being able to buy smaller clothes! Jean: I only weigh myself once a month, so when I see the pounds coming off, it inspires me to keep going. Jane: Compliments from friends. One in particular told me that she was so inspired by my weight loss, she started dieting too.  Our greatest temptation: Jean: Chocolate candy bars like Butterfingers or Three Musketeers. Jane: Ice cream. Our favorite diet food: Jean: I top a 16-ounce can of tuna with some tasty veggie salsa and a few crackers. Jane: I toss a bunch of veggies with garlic and peppers, then have a side of garlic toast made with low-fat spray butter.  Our snacking tips: Jean and Jane: Oat and yogurt granola bars, sugar-free Jell-O with a dollop of Reddi-Whip or apples and oranges. Our exercise routine: Jean: I use hand weights and do a series of leg lifts, lunges and crunches plus stretching three times a week. Jane: I walk three miles, four times a week.  Slim-down advice: Jean and Jane: Make the commitment to start a diet and follow through with it. If one day you falter, keep going the next day. The payoff: Jean: Being able to wear smaller sizes -- and getting complimented from coworkers and friends. Jane: After I slimmed down, my doctor didn&amp;#039;t even recognize me. He said that losing all the weight was more beneficial than anything he could have ever done for me!   The Secret of Your Success Have you lost unwanted pounds and kept them off? Whether you&amp;#039;ve shed that extra weight with a diet that really worked or by revamping your snack habits, we want to know your secrets for an ongoing Good Housekeeping Web feature. Email us your success story, and be sure to include your name and daytime phone number. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a16023/diet-success-higgerson-yates-1004/>