Melissa Hunt, 26, of Athens sheds 53 pounds

• Former weight: 190 pounds

• Current weight: 137 pounds

Enlarge this image

Family

Melissa Hunt, 26, is 190 pounds in this photo taken in March 2008.

Enlarge this image

Family

After losing 53 pounds, she weighs 137 pounds.

• Pounds lost: 53 pounds

• Height: 5 feet 4 inches

• How long she’s kept it off: “I started with Weight Watchers on April 14, 2008,” says Hunt, who reached her goal in September; she’s kept it off for six months.

• Personal life: “I have a wonderful husband named Philip [who] is currently training for deployment with the Army,” says Hunt. “I work at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine as a registered veterinary technician.” She also works part-time as a tax preparer at H&R Block, “which is quite fun this year since my regular clients haven’t seen me since I lost weight.” She and her husband live in Athens.

• Turning point: “My husband proposed Feb. 15, 2008, and I wanted to lose a little weight for the [August] wedding,” she says. “Also, I really needed to lose weight for my health. I did not like having high blood pressure at my age, and my joints ached.”

• Diet plan: Breakfast is coffee with a granola bar. For lunch, she has a frozen meal with fruit or yogurt. She reaches for fruit or granola in the afternoon. Dinner is lean meat with vegetables and potatoes or brown rice; she has dessert every day before bed.

• Exercise routine: “I try to get one hour of cardio a day and one hour of weights three days per week,” she says. “I am trying to add in Pilates for some stretching and core work.”

• Biggest challenge: “My biggest challenge was finding things my husband and I both liked and were healthy,” she says. “He is a tall guy that never gains. I try to make regular comfort foods and use leaner, less fattening ingredients with smaller portions for me.”

• How life has changed: “Shopping is finally fun,” she says. “I can buy clothes and look trendy — they don’t make a lot of trendy clothes for young people in plus sizes.”

• See other before and after pictures sent by users like you! ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | new TEN | Inspirations | Inspirations II | Readers photos
• Upload your own photos!
• Topic: Atlanta's weight loss resource

Be an inspiration: Be an inspiration: If you've made positive changes in your diet and/or fitness routine and are happy with the results, please share your success with us. Include your email address, a daytime phone number and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG). Write: Success Stories, c/o Suzanne Van Atten, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sixth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303; or e-mail ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.

More success stories

• Sonya Moste, 41, of Fayetteville lost 60 pounds 
• Kristy Wegert, 36, of Roswell loses 99 pounds 
• Dick Jones, 53, of Alpharetta loses 72 pounds 
• Derrick Williams, 37, of Dunwoody sheds 75 pounds 
• Sherrie Cline, 44, of Cartersville loses 72 pounds 
• Hannah Conheady, 19, of Lawrenceville sheds 102 pounds 
• Sara Corcoran, 39, of Johns Creek sheds 114 pounds 
• Jennifer Sabatier, 34, of Atlanta loses 80 pounds 
• Mickey Ruffalo, 57, of Woodstock loses 65 pounds 
• Jane Walters, 51, of McDonough sheds 38 pounds 

• Back to Health