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 Patty Murphy, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or e-mail Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
SUCCESS STORY / Carolyn G. Sanders, 49: From 190 pounds to 138 pounds
Former weight: 190 pounds
Current weight: 138 pounds
Pounds lost: 52 pounds
Height: 5 feet 3 inches
Age: 49 years
How long she's kept it off: "I started my journey in September 2007. I set many short-term goals and reached my final goal April 2013," said Sanders.
Personal life: "I live in DeKalb County's Smoke Rise community with my husband, Dennis, and our three children," she said. They have a son, Andrew, and two daughters, Claire and Victoria. "We have been married for nearly 23 years. I'm currently retired from the healthcare industry. I completed my B.S. in business from Georgia State University in 1996."
Turning point: "My sister died at the age of 38 of an inoperable tumor. After losing her, my [other] sister living here in Atlanta asked me to join her for a session with her personal trainer. This invitation jump-started my life of fitness and good health … I started by decreasing simple sugars and fats from my diet. After a month of eliminating desserts, cakes and pies, and working out three days a week, I saw eight pounds of weight loss, but most importantly, I felt better than I had in a long time and my clothes were beginning to fit less snug around the waist."
Diet plan: Breakfast is oatmeal, mixed berries and turkey sausage. Lunch is a green salad with cheese, a boiled egg, avocado and lemon salad dressing. Dinner is usually salmon, sweet potato and green vegetables. "My after dinner treat is often a piece of dark chocolate; this helps me from binging on chocolate or other decadent sweet treats."
Exercise routine: "I'm now a triathlete," she said. "My exercise routine consists of an hour of cardio in the form of a swim, a bike ride, spin class or a run six days per week." She meets with her personal trainer two days a week.
Biggest challenge: "The temptation to eat multiple servings of desserts or high fatty foods is challenging for me … I have to work daily to make sure I avoid these temptations. I do enjoy these during the holidays and special occasions, but in moderation."
How life has changed: "I now feel I have true balance in life. My spiritual, physical and emotional life have come together to make me a better Christian, mother, wife and overall person," she said. To stay motivated, she creates a yearly race calendar. "These goals take the monotony from exercising and changes it to training."
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