SUCCESS STORY/Debbie Rennie, 58: From 224 pounds to 155 pounds
Former weight: 224 pounds
Current weight: 155 pounds
Pounds lost: 69 pounds
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Age: 58 years
How long she's kept it off: Rennie started in August 2017 and reached her current weight in July.
Personal life: "I've been married for 33 years to my husband, Rich. Our son, Rex, is married with two children, and our daughter, Rachel, is in high school," Rennie said. "I am currently working at a preschool. I was in banking for 12 years before children."
Turning point: "One morning," Rennie said, "I went on the scale and said, 'Something's got to give.' " That day the scale said she weighed 217 pounds. "And if it wasn't that day that the gym owner approached me and said: 'Hey Deb, you are one of the hardest working out people in here. Did you ever hear of MyFitnessPal?' I said yes, but couldn't put it on my phone and I was unsure of my calories, too. The owner of Required Fitness set my calories and helped me get started (with the app). … I am forever grateful. … My prayers were answered. My blood pressure was up, too."
Diet plan: She uses the MyFitnessPal app to track her food choices, calories and activities, and she stays under 1,850 calories daily. Breakfast is eggs with peanut butter on multigrain bread or an English muffin. Lunch is salad with turkey. Dinner is protein with potatoes and veggies. She has Greek yogurt for her snacks, and pizza is her treat.
Exercise routine: "I have resistance-trained close to 38 years now on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, nonstop, even through pregnancies. It's like brushing my teeth," Rennie said. "Plus, I do cardio such as power walking or elliptical."
Biggest challenge: "Portion control and staying under the calories at first was my biggest challenge. Now, it's a lifestyle. … My secret to success is don't quit. … When you go to eat something, think about benefits later. When you eat better food, you feel better. It is worth it and easy to do if you stay persistent. Your taste buds change, you get full easier and you have more energy. … I check calories or Google choices at restaurants first," Rennie said. "I have learned calorie totals in my head and can still enjoy foods out, but I make better choices."
How life has changed: "I am more confident now. I feel younger. My health is better. I feel more attractive, and I can get up off the floor easier with more control and discipline. My blood pressure is down. I am no longer snoring, and I am happier. I want to help or influence others, and I may have. I have more energy and stamina. This is now a lifestyle, and I am not going back," Rennie said. "I am now in a habit of better living — never felt better."
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.
