Former weight: 190 pounds
Current weight: 150
Pounds lost: 40
Height: 5 feet, 5 inches
How long she's kept it off: Seven months. She started last year in February and met her goal in November.
Personal life: "I am a financial analyst at Georgia-Pacific," said Lanier, an Atlanta native. "I have been married to Gabriel Lanier for 14 years and have two children, Ariel and Jada Lanier." She and her family live in Mableton.
Turning point: "I took a look at my birthday party pictures and had enough," she said. "At that point, I decided it was time for me to do something -- I did not want to continue to pass down my poor eating and exercise habits to my children. I made up my mind to do this for myself and no one else. I did not like my appearance; I hated shopping because my clothes did not fit properly." She decided to join a Weight Watchers At Work program.
Diet plan: Her day starts with whole wheat cereal, fat-free milk and fruit. Lunch is usually a salad. She snacks on popcorn and for dinner she has lean protein, rice and vegetables.
Exercise routine: "When I first started the program, I did cardio for 20 minutes every day," she says. Now she exercises 20 to 30 minutes every morning during the week.
Biggest challenge: "Even though I have met my goal weight I still have challenges, but what has kept me healthy is the support from my Weight Watchers co-workers and my commitment to my new lifestyle," she said.
And when she is dining out, she faces another challenge, “realizing that I can't eat the same things my husband and friends enjoy. I gave up my margaritas and [started] planning my meals.”
How life has changed: "My clothes fit differently; I have more confidence," she says. "My husband and family have made changes in their lives and I feel as though if my story can motivate someone else then I want to be an example for them," she said. "I can't possibly describe how excited I was when I met my goal weight last November. My advice to others is to make up your mind and stick to your decision to lose weight."
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 Holly Steel, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or e-mail ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
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