• Certain weight loss tips that work for one person might not work for another.
• Here, author Jennifer Still lists five ways she approached dieting and exercise that helped her lose over 120 pounds in just under a year.

I’ve struggled with my weight all my life, but as I moved further into my thirties, something clicked in my brain and I realized that when it came to getting my health on track, it was now or never.

After all, obesity-related illnesses like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes run in my family and if I wanted to decrease my chances of getting them too, I had to radically change my lifestyle and shed some serious pounds.

Just under a year later, I’ve lost more than 120 pounds and am pretty close to my goal weight.

It hasn’t been easy and it’s a journey that’s far from over — it certainly is a lifestyle rather than a quick-fix diet— but understanding these five things helped me out along the way.