Read these before and after testimonies and find out how our eight-week diet and fitness programme changed these iVillagers' lives for the better

Fitter and thinner

• I've been walking up a steep hill in the country for the last six weeks and have always needed to stop a few times on the way. Yesterday, however, I walked all the way up the hill without stopping. I can also now wear a belt on the third notch that I haven't been able to wear for years. Lastly, I can jog for 13 minutes, whereas six weeks ago I could only manage four minutes and that nearly killed me. - iVillager Sarah

• I have just finished the eight-week Shape Up Challenge and I thought I would report my progress. I weighed myself and a total of 16 pounds has fallen by the wayside so far - that's equivalent to eight bags of sugar. But mostly, I use my jeans as an indicator of my weight loss/body shape. When I started this programme, my size 24 jeans were skintight and I had to undo them to sit down for any length of time or for driving. Today I tried them on again and they're not only quite comfortable, but extremely baggy. In fact, I haven't been wearing them, as the loose fit actually makes me look bigger. They are definitely an excellent gauge for how much thinner I am getting.

  I have also been doing the Vanessa (Feltz) video two or three times a week for about five weeks now, and the first time I did part of it I thought I was going to die and had to stop. But, I have just done the warm-up and first two stages (of four) with only minor puffing at the end.

  The conclusion to this lengthy tale is that I feel great and I'm sure I must look better as my confidence has been boosted to no end. iVillager hanjam38

Life changes

• I have decided to take a diploma in yoga teaching - how amazing is that? It's nothing to do directly with The Shape Up Challenge, but it's really because you guys on the [message] board helped me to start thinking about changing my life. It has started with me wanting to get in shape and who knows where it will end up.

  One of the course requirements is that I do yoga every day, so if that doesn't lick me into shape I don't know what will.

  Listen all you lovely, lovely girls - especially you new girlies - The Shape Up Challenge message board has changed my life, so come back every day and watch magical things happen to you. iVillager Kazzi b

New-found confidence

• The biggest changes are the ones happening inside my head. I've been in a few situations over the last few days where I could have severely gone off the rails. In fact, in the past that's exactly what happened. This time, however, I think it's the responsibility of feeling the need to 'account' for myself to the board that has stopped me making silly mistakes. In the past, this has invariably led to me giving up on the whole thing, thereby gaining another stone in the bargain.

  We've been out to restaurants and pubs every day for the last four days and so far I've not gone over my self-imposed calorie count of 1,400 calories. I've chosen the healthy, low-cal, low-fat option, drank water while all around were getting quite drunk, and haven't once gotten grumpy about it because I'm on track to change my life forever.

  Once I'm at my target weight, I know I can take the time to eat chips, drink lager and join in with everyone. Although I must admit, I didn't really feel as though I missed out on anything. And all this from a woman who put herself in hospital because she would not take antibiotics, preferring to get sloshed on lager instead.

  So, in a nutshell, The Shape Up Challenge - in particular the message board - has given me the strength and responsibility to account for my own actions and the determination to succeed. Without it, I would be speedily heading towards 16 stone. After four weeks, I've lost a stone and gained many wonderful friends without whom this wouldn't have been possible. iVillager Jules

• I have so much more confidence now. For instance, I have bought one of those t-shirts with handprints on the boobs that seem to be very popular at the moment. Seven weeks ago I wouldn't have dreamed of wearing one of those. I wore it for the first time today and got a wolf whistle. Okay, admittedly I was in a builders' merchant at the time so I probably could have been in sackcloth and gotten the same response, but it made my day. iVillager Sarahjb4

New attitude

• I suppose the biggest change for me - aside from being able to ride my bike up hills, see my toes without bending forward and wear clothes I haven't worn in a year or two - is my attitude. I've always been fairly positive about myself but my weight has been a bugbear for some time. I knew I'd gotten over the illness that had caused my initial weight gain, but I was always putting off doing something about it. Through The Shape Up Challenge and this message board - which has been particularly invaluable for its support - I have changed from someone who wants to lose some weight and should get fitter to someone who is losing weight and getting fitter. No more excuses, no more 'I wish'. It isn't easy doing things like walking past Thornton's or the bakery, but now, the difference is, I can and I want to. iVillager Megamolly