Setting goals or targets is vital for successful weight loss. Whether you're determined to show off that beach body on holiday, wow them at a wedding or bowl them over at a ball, setting and reaching these goals is the key to motivation and success.

But e-dieter Grazyna Gurdziel had a very special goal. Her aim was to get in shape and get fit for her 40th birthday!

In January this year, our successful e-dieter made a New Year's Resolution to be fit and healthy before reaching her milestone birthday in May. And she did just that - reaching her target weight of 8st 9lbs.

A hysterectomy a couple of years ago forced Grazyna into inactivity and with the change in lifestyle came unwanted weight gain. And although she was initially able to lose a lot of weight, she later gained twice as much - and never lost it.

At the end of last year, Grazyna found out that her cholesterol level was elevated and that made her realise she needed to re-think her diet. Grazyna says that the last straw for her, however, was when she saw a picture of herself during the festivities last Christmas: "I knew I needed outside motivation to successfully lose weight and stay fit, so I made a New Year's Resolution to became healthier and fitter by the time I turned 40."

That's when Grazyna, a housewife who is originally from Poland and now lives in London, joined her e-diet.

Grazyna says, "For most of my life, I was a healthy weight but occasionally, in times of crisis, I would gain a little weight. When I dieted, I would end up with a yo-yo effect and only physical activity - walking everywhere instead of using transport - kept me on track."

After her operation, Grazyna wasn't able to exercise regularly and reached her highest weight of ten stones. At 5'1", this was a lot of extra weight to carry. She admits, "My body looked swollen and had completely lost its firmness. My self-confidence vanished and I didn't even think of wearing more revealing clothes, especially sleeveless ones. Health-wise I was often short of breath, I had no energy from early morning (if I managed to get up early) until late night and many foods made me sick."

So Grazyna convinced her husband that the e-diet plan would be beneficial for both of them and they shared the diet experience! Grazyna says it was great to have an ally in her weight loss and the only enemy was her own food cravings.

Join the iVillage.co.uk Body Boost Diet and really succeed this time!

Grazyna says, "I have really enjoyed the e-dieting plan and so has my husband. I choose to follow the Units Plan, combined with recipes and ideas from my eDiets Meal Plan. The best part of it is the variety of choice. I could make healthy and tasty meals in minutes or spend more time and prepare something more elaborate but equally as healthy."

"The stress management and other guidance was always a great help to me. But the part that will stay with me forever is the knowledge I have gained about food and its effect on our body and mind, and how to live healthily and still enjoy it!"

And there was another unexpected benefit! "As a foreigner, I widened my vocabulary on subjects related to food and physical activity."

On reaching her target weight of 8st 9lbs, Grazyna says she not only looks better but also feels better.

"My energy level has gone up as well as my fitness and overall performance. I gained a bit of self-confidence and my body image has improved, not only physically but also in my mind. I feel more attractive, which gives me more confidence but I am still working on that! And thanks to e-dieting, I have started to control my stress levels."

"I am not embarrassed about my arms any more and occasionally wear sleeveless tops. Most of all, my body feels healthy, fit and flexible."

Grazyna is confident that she will be able to maintain her target weight: "Eating healthily feels very natural and positive, as if it has became second nature. Knowing that variety and moderation is the key, I am not so paranoid about food, as I was at the beginning of the eDiets plan."

And exercise is an important part of her life now. "If I don't have my exercise or callanetics session for a day or two, my body seems to call for it."

"I do still have moments of crisis, but I know now how to manage and just get back on track as soon as I pick myself up. Knowledge gives me freedom from limitations while dieting."

Thanks to e-dieting, Grazyna is fit and fabulous at 40!

Join the iVillage.co.uk Body Boost Diet and really succeed this time!