Dropping Lbs. Brianne Dorato, East Meadow

"It was a whole new thing to gain weight," says Dorato, who is engaged and is to marry in February. "I was always big because of the muscles from playing softball, but I was never overweight."

The excess pounds changed her life. She no longer enjoyed getting together with old friends, or even making new ones.

"After I gained weight, when I walked into a room I always thought people were staring at me thinking how heavy I was," says Dorato, who also had to consider her family's health history.

"Diabetes runs in my family," she says. "I wanted to be healthy for myself and for my family. I also knew I didn't want to be overweight when we started trying to have a family."

She joined the Health Management Resources weight-loss program at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola that includes meal-replacement shakes.

SEE PHOTOSHow did these 150 LIers drop up to 320 lbs. each?

24, East Meadow

Occupation: Medical secretary at Winthrop-University Hospital

Height: 5-foot-9