Oklahoma Woman Gets Inspired By Online Dieting

Emily Wood, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A recent CDC report revealed more than 30 percent of Oklahoma's residents struggle with obesity.

Dieting is changing as millions look to the Web to help shed those pounds.

"I tell people that Google changed my life, but it's so true," Amber England said.

A simple search and a couple clicks led England to some online tools for her personal weight loss journey.

"Within like a week of being on the site I was just hooked, instantly," England said.

England found the site JillianMichaels.com where she connected with an online community of people just like her, struggling to lose those extra pounds.

"You really grow close with people when you're going through something very similar," England said.

She found a friend in Louisiana, and the two began to encourage each other by talking daily on the phone or online. Eventually, they made trips across the country to support each other in marathons and fitness conferences.

"Even though there was distance, cyberspace, that separated us we were able to connect and bond," England said.

Twelve months later and 100 pounds lighter, England has became an online success story and an inspiration for people just starting their journeys online.

There are dozens of sites dedicated to helping dieters achieve their goals and more are popping up every day.

There are healthy recipes on sites like Self and Weightwatchers.

GoTribal is dedicated to endurance athletes.

MapMyRun helps fitness nuts exercise no matter where they are.

Kirstie Alley started Phitter--her own version of Twitter; a place for those struggling to get "Phit" to find online support.

England is so passionate about the benefits of the online communities she decided to make a career change, leaving behind her work with politicians at the state Capitol and stepping into something brand new.

England is now a personal trainer. She runs an outdoor sweat camp for wellness company, Sweat OKC. The camp is just a small part of what she does to keep her own clients accountable. She tweets and replies to online questions from her clients throughout the day.

"They'll ask me questions about nutrition, they'll tell me they're sore," England said.

Critics of online dieting said it's tougher to stay accountable in a virtual world than it is in person at a gym or at camp. But, England and her clients said the websites really click with those too intimidated to do it the old-fashioned way.

"I was petrified because, you know, you go into a gym and see all these skinny girls reading magazines and you're like, 'why are they here?' England said.

England is using her success story to inspire others to run after their own weight loss goals.