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 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or e-mail Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
Success story
Amanda Dutton, 38: From 278 pounds to 165 pounds
Former weight: 278 pounds
Current weight: 165 pounds
Pounds lost: 113 pounds
Height: 5 feet, 7 inches
Age: 38 years
How long she's kept it off: "I began my weight loss in January 2005 with gastric bypass surgery and reached my goal weight, for me, in October 2005," Dutton said. Since then, she's maintained it.
Personal life: "I'm happily married with four children. I have a private counseling practice in Gainesville called Healthy Life Counseling (healthylifecounseling.com). … My goal is to help women find out what is underneath their connection with food and discover their self-worth and self-confidence along the way."
Turning point: "When I realized that I was in my mid-20s with two children. … I couldn't play on the floor with them, couldn't chase them. Heck, I couldn't do much without getting out of breath. I was on blood pressure medicine and already had arthritis in my knees. … I knew something had to change. I've tried so many weight loss plans over the years … if it's out there, I've tried it." In January 2005 she had bariatric surgery.
Diet plan: "Since I have to focus on getting enough protein in my day, I use that as my goal for how I form my eating plan each day." Chicken is her primary protein source. She also eats protein bars, salads and fruit.
Exercise routine: "We have an exercise bike at home that I will hop on while I cruise the Internet on my phone, and I do yoga in my office. I don't have a set routine."
Biggest challenge: "Head hunger. I found out that I was relying on food to numb me out from dealing with feelings that occurred in normal, everyday life. … I had to actually face my feelings and learn how to cope with them. … When I faced them, they got easier to deal with."
How life has changed: "At 26, I was looking at life as already being on the verge of over. … Now, I am paying my experience forward by helping others learn how to change their outlook. … Don't expect a change if you don't make one. It's a hard thing to hear, but we can say all that we want about losing weight, we can learn all the tips and tricks and tools, but if we don't actually do something about it, why should we expect anything to happen?"
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