Stacie Guines

Stacie Guines, 27, recently became a happy loser. Over three years, the 5-feet, 4-inches tall Barger Academy of Fine Arts teacher slimmed from 340 pounds to 154 pounds. This month, People magazine featured her in an article called “Half Their Size.” She appeared Tuesday on NBC’s “Today” show. “I was happy, excited, overjoyed, blessed,” Ms. Guines said. “It’s something I’d prayed about, because I want to inspire others.” Her own motivation came from L.A. Weight Loss and the Henry Branch YMCA in Brainerd, she said. At L.A. Weight Loss, she kept a food diary and worked one-onone with a counselor, she said.

“You shop for yourself and learn to eat from each food group — no food group is left out,” Ms. Guines said. Junk-food cravings changed to a yen for broccoli and clean, clear water, she said.

Workout partners and a fitness “boot camp” with an Army drill sergeant, who dubbed her “Daffodil,” led to greater success and energy from exercise.

And the secret weapon?

“I had some strong camaraderie with the girls in the gym, a strong, supportive family and strong friends,” Ms. Guines said.

When she lost the most weight at her center, L.A. Weight Loss forwarded her name to People. After a photo shoot and interview with an editor, she received a call with the good news in mid-October.

Most exciting, she said, is the chance to inspire others.

No one can lose weight for you, but others can chart the path.

“The bottom line is you have to do it for yourself,” she said. “When you’re ready to do it, you’ll do it. It won’t be easy, but as long as you stick with it you can do it.”