SUCCESS STORY / Amy Deal, AGE: From 192 pounds to 140 pounds
Former weight: 192 pounds
Current weight: 140 pounds
Pounds lost: 52 pounds
Height: 5 feet 8 inches
Age: 39 years
How long she's kept it off: She started Weight Watchers in March 2011. In December, she reached her goal and became a lifetime member; she lost ten more pounds by June.
Personal life: "I am an elementary music teacher in Gwinnett County. I live with my husband of nine years, Chad, and our two children, ages six and four," says Deal who lives in Lawrenceville. Her husband, Chad, was featured in the Success Stories column on August 22, 2012 (http://www.ajc.com/health/chad-deal-41-of-1503275.html)
Turning point: "In January 2011, I made a New Year's resolution to lose forty pounds before my twentieth high school reunion in May of that year," she says. "Then I waited and waited to start, and was discouraged that I would not have time to lose all of the weight I wanted but figured I could still lose some...[I] managed to lose fifteen pounds before my high school reunion. When my husband Chad saw that I was having success, he decided to join, too, and it was so much easier having both of us on the program together.
Diet plan: "I learned how to eat healthy snacks and not get hungry all day long," she says. Breakfast is a whole-wheat English muffin with peanut butter and a banana and coffee with skim milk. Lunch is a turkey sandwich with spreadable cheese and an apple. Dinner is chicken, steamed veggies and a baked sweet potato.
Exercise routine: She exercises at least thirty minutes three times per week on a recumbent bike. She also enjoys long walks and Zumba DVDs.
Biggest challenge: "I am definitely an emotional eater and crave chips and chocolate when I am stressed out," she says. "I try to plan ahead for it and allow for those indulgences when I am having a crazy week...as long as I stay accountable..."
How life has changed: "I have much more energy for my job, which often [involves] dancing, moving and sitting on the floor with small children, and with my own small children," she says. "Also, it got much easier once Chad started doing it with me. We really keep each other on track. We both also shop differently now—I would never buy something unhealthy and bring it into the house because I don't want to sabotage his amazing accomplishment, and he supports me in the same way. Even our children eat differently now - if they are hungry, they often ask for an apple or cheese instead of cookies or candy —that is the change that we are most proud of."
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 Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
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