How One Woman Lost Nearly 100 Lbs by Making Weight Loss Fun

"If your workout feels like suffering, try something else."

Before: 232 lbs

After: 137 lbs

Kacey Lauchnor, 25, grew up in a family with suspect health habits. "If we ever ate a vegetable, it was covered in cheese," says the graphic designer from Herriman, Utah. Her eating habits continued throughout college and after her wedding, and by 2012, 5'6" Kacey clocked in at 232 pounds. "I knew I was getting fat," she says. "But I still thought, I'm not that fat."

After her husband—who had reached 314 pounds himself—was denied life insurance coverage because of his size, Kacey signed them up for a variety of workout classes. "It was hard at first but a lot of fun," she says. "It was always something different—cardio, lunges, squats, kickboxing." By August 2014, she had cracked the 150's, and before the winter holidays, Kacey saw 140 pounds on the scale for the first time she could remember. (Her husband dropped a cool 85 pounds too.)

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6 Tips for Healthier Sleep

While many people turn to caffeine after a night spent tossing and turning, there’s no substitute for a good night’s sleep. 

“You just can’t cheat it,” Watson said. “There’s no pill, there’s nothing that you can take to try to overcome, or to try to replace it.”

To help you stop fighting and start sleeping, Watson offers these tips:

1. Keep a Regular Sleep Routine

You can help sleep along by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, as well as by sticking to your pre-bed routine so that your body knows that sleep is coming.

2. Prepare a Sleep-Friendly Environment

Cool, dark, and quiet are essential. Turn out the lights or use light-blocking curtains or shades. If you live in a noisy environment, white noise machines or ear plugs may block out some of the sounds.

3. Avoid Caffeine After 2:00 p.m.

If you must drink caffeine, avoid it after two in the afternoon, because it can increase your chances of insomnia later that night.

4. Don't Exercise Right Before Bed

Regular exercise can help you sleep more soundly, but for some people, it can be disruptive if it's done right before going to bed.

5. Skip the Pre-Bed Cocktail

Alcohol may make you drowsy, but it can disturb your sleep later as the alcohol wears off.

6. Create a Tech-Free Zone

Cell phones, computers, and tablets can all disrupt sleep because their ever-glowing lights—especially those in the blue wavelengths—can throw off your circadian rhythm by mimicking daylight.

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