SUCCESS STORY / Amy Aycock, 46: From 197 pounds to 152 pounds
Former weight: 197 pounds
Current weight: 152 pounds
Pounds lost: 45
Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Age: 46 years
How long she's kept it off: She started in April and reached her current weight in December.
Personal life: "My husband, Jim, and I have been married for 23 years and have four children ranging in age from college to middle school," said Aycock, whose husband, Jim Aycock, was featured in Success Stories. She is a senior account manager for an enterprise software company and lives in Marietta.
Turning point: "I was inspired by my husband, Jim, who started making healthier lifestyle choices just four months prior and was achieving visible results," Aycock said. "It was literally the Monday after we returned from a beach vacation over spring break and I decided that I wanted to look and feel better. Starting on that day, I set goals and made a commitment to improve and hired wellness coach Jacynta Harb with Sparkle A New You to be my coach. At 46, I had enough experience to know that I needed accountability in order to reach my goals. … I decided that I wanted to make a permanent change and invest in myself."
Diet plan: Breakfast is two eggs, an English muffin with cream cheese, and tomato or almond butter. Lunch and dinner are grilled chicken with vegetables.
Exercise routine: "I love Orange Theory Fitness, which I do about four times a week. … I love this workout, which is saying a lot considering I have never exercised regularly in my life," Aycock said. "A year ago I couldn't run. … I run about two to three miles every class and have seen measurable improvements in my speed, along with the amount of weight I lift."
Biggest challenge: "My biggest challenge has been to stay on track during weekends, vacations and holidays," she said. "When you add all of those days up they amount to more than half of the year, so they can really undermine all of my hard work Monday through Thursday."
How life has changed: "I have completed multiple 5K races over the past year and recently did a 15K race. I would never have imagined doing this a few years ago," she said. "… The most impactful change has been seeing the ripple effect on our kids. We're becoming more active together, whether it's a Saturday class as a family, running a 5K with my 14-year-old daughter, Lily, or crossing the finish line of a 15K with my husband, Jim. Instead of just eating and drinking, our vacations now include zip-lining, hiking, horseback riding and kayaking. Being strong and healthy enables me to live life fully with my family." Her advice: "Small steps lead to big changes, so pick something to start with and commit to it."
Share Your Success: Have you lost weight successfully with a healthy lifestyle change? If you would like to share your story with our readers, please include your email address, a daytime phone number, and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG), and contact us at: Success Stories, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or email Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
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