SUCCESS STORY / Carla Dunn, 46: From 198 pounds to 130 pounds
Former weight: 198 pounds
Current weight: 130 pounds
Pounds lost: 68 pounds
Height: 5 feet 2 inches
Age: 46 years
How long she's kept it off: "I started metabolism specialist Nancy Masoud's Lock It In Weight Loss program in March 2018 and reached my goal in late August 2018," Dunn said.
Personal life: "I have lived in Atlanta for 20 years, currently in Ormewood Park," Dunn said. "I'm a management consultant."
Turning point: "I had been thinking about looking for a nutritionist to work with on weight loss and just generally feeling better for a while," Dunn said. "When I lost weight before … I did it mostly eating convenience foods, and this time I wanted to really learn how to change my habits for a lifetime. A co-worker told me about Nancy and the success that several people she knew had working with her."
Diet plan: She focused on lean proteins, green vegetables and fruits such as apples, citrus and berries, for snacks. A typical breakfast was two boiled egg whites "because I am not a fan of yolks, not because the diet forbade them," Dunn said. Midmorning she would have fruit. Lunch and dinner were 4 to 5 ounces of lean protein and two cups of vegetables. "Sheet-pan dinners are easy and quick and are still my go-to meals," Dunn said. "Most nights while I was losing weight, I made sheet-pan dinners with enough leftovers for lunch the next day. Simple baked chicken breasts, turkey tenderloins or fish with seasoned salt — I love the Beautiful Briny Sea line that's made here in Atlanta — on one side of the pan, and asparagus, broccoli or Brussels sprouts on the other side."
Exercise routine: "The only exercise I did while losing most of the weight was walking," Dunn said. "As I got close to my goal weight, I added yoga and some light strength training to my exercise routine."
Biggest challenge: "The biggest challenge was learning how to make the best choices I could when I couldn't control exactly what I was eating," Dunn said. "Nancy was always willing to look over restaurant menus with me to help me know what the best options were, and over time I learned what to look for on menus."
How life has changed: "Most of the changes have been in how much better I feel," Dunn said. "I have the energy that I didn't before I lost weight and look forward to and enjoy being active much more. … Learn how your body reacts to different types of foods and eliminate or minimize things that you don't react well to. For example, I learned that I was sensitive to cow's milk but not other types of milk. I love yogurt and cheese, but now I stick to goat's milk yogurt and goat or sheep's milk cheeses in moderation."
Share Your Success: Each week, Success Stories focuses on an individual’s unique weight loss journey. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution does not endorse any specific weight loss program but includes names and links for the benefit of readers who want further information. 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, 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.