Jeanne N. Ryan loses 60 pounds
Former weight: 210 pounds
Current weight: 150 pounds
Pounds lost: 60 pounds
Height: 5 feet 5 inches
How long she's kept it off: Six months. She started in April 2002 and achieved her goal in January 2003. After a second pregnancy, she returned to her goal in September 2009.
Personal life: "I love being mom to CJ, 8 years, and Tyler, 22 months, and wife to Jim. I am a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, in Georgia, but taking a break while my kids are young," Ryan says. "Because my husband is supportive of my goals, I lead Weight Watchers meetings on Saturdays."
Turning point: "I was tired of being overweight and unhappy with myself. Enough was enough, and when the doctor called me chubby twice, I had enough."
Diet plan: "Weight Watchers taught me that all foods have a points value and we all have a certain number of points we can consume in order to maintain our weight or lose weight," she says. "I eat many of the same items I used to eat, just in different amounts and with other items I had not ever considered, too. I also am choosing much more satisfying items to help me stay full longer and not want to snack all the time, which is great."
Exercise routine: "I go to the gym between three to five times per week. At the gym I do cardio, sometimes weights, and I love to do a kickboxing class when I can."
Biggest challenge: "Biggest challenge is sticking with it all the time," she says. "I work for Weight Watchers for two reasons, I love to spread the word that if I can do this anyone can do this and it works and to keep me at my goal and focused."
How life has changed: "My self-esteem improved significantly," she says. "I enjoy going out with my husband again in public, I am so much healthier as a diabetic since losing the weight. As a Type 1 diabetic, diet and exercise will not cure my diabetes like Type 2 diabetics; however, my overall health is better and, therefore, my diabetes is better, too."
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 e-mail 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, Sixth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303; or e-mail ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
