You don't have to turn on the television to find weight loss inspiration! These three weight loss roles models live right in Cobb County. Each one lost more than 100 pounds and shared their stories as part of the popular Atlanta Journal-Constitution Weight Loss Success feature.
While their choices and strategies are intensely personal, each experience also included strategies anyone trying to lose weight might consider. Here are tips from three Cobb County residents who have managed to drop at least 100 pounds:
D.J. Andrews, 26, of Marietta went from 320 pounds to 195
Making the decision to lose: Andrews began his two-year journey in October 2012 after he saw a reflection of himself in the sliding glass door at the mall. "I felt sick, almost like I was having a panic attack because the reality of the situation, my situation, sunk in," he said. "The image of myself I saw in the sliding glass door at the mall that day kept me motivated enough to keep going."
Diet: "My diet honestly didn't change that much, I just learned portion control," he said. His day starts with Cream of Wheat cereal with honey, 12-grain toast and scrambled eggs. Lunch is a tuna and spinach sandwich on 12-grain bread for lunch, peanuts or peanut butter for a snack and two chicken breasts with broccoli for dinner.
Exercise: Andrews first step was starting to walk around the campus where he studied communications. He advanced to working out seven days a week, everything from jogging to weight training routines he found on Bodybuilding.com.
Kassie Bohanon, 43, of Acworth went from 370 pounds to 214 pounds.
Making the decision to lose: "The turning point for me was a series of major life changes, including divorce and the death of my mother," she said. "I was 38 years old and in horrible health. I came face to face with the reality that, if I did not do something drastic, my life was going to be cut extremely short."
Diet: Bohanon followed the Weight Watchers program. Breakfast is Greek yogurt with berries. Lunch is a turkey wrap and dinner is grilled chicken with vegetables.
Exercise: "I do a combination of cardio and strength-training, along with hot yoga, and I work out five to six days per week," she said. "Everything in my life has changed for the better. I no longer have Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea or high-cholesterol. I can fit into a seat at the movies, a concert or sporting event."
Angie Spann Arnold, 53, of Marietta went from 279 pounds to 175 pounds
Making the decision to lose: "I was one that never wanted my picture taken and seeing some pictures that were made of me really caused me to think," she said. "After many years of yo-yo dieting, I knew I had to make a change that would last; it could not be a diet, it had to be a way of life. I did a lot of praying (and realized) my unhappiness caused me to eat."
Diet: Arnold at low-carb at first, not eating more than 20 net carbs a day. "After some weight loss, I started adding fruits," she said. "I know that this is a way of life now and that carbs cause me to gain weight. I don't deny myself anything, but I think really long and hard before I choose to eat anything that is not what I need."
Exercise routine: "I did very little exercise before," she said. "I have joined a local gym to work out with weights and have just started learning to run — something I never thought I would do."
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