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 Patty Murphy, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or e-mail Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
SUCCESS STORY / Jeannine Mcintire, 43: From 236 pounds to 135 pounds
Former weight: 236 pounds
Current weight: 135 pounds
Pounds lost: 101
Height: 5 feet 3 inches
Age: 43
How long she's kept it off: She started in August 2011 and reached her current weight in December 2013.
Personal life: "I am a full-time working mother and wife," says Mcintire, a salon manager and hairstylist for 26 years. "I was only dating my husband at the time that I joined Weight Watchers and we were married about a year into the program. I have three sons of my own, and one son and two daughters through marriage. We also have two dogs, one rabbit, and a turtle." She lives with her family in Loganville, Ga.
Turning point: "When I looked at that before picture, I realized this cannot continue this way," she says. "I was determined to do whatever it took to lose that weight. The determination kept my drive going." When she asked her doctor about healthy ways to lose weight, her doctor suggested Weight Watchers, where she herself successfully lost 50 pounds. Mcintire went straight home, looked online for locations close to her and within an hour was at her first meeting. "I went to that meeting and signed up. I figured I had nothing to lose but weight!"
Diet plan: A typical day starts with two eggs, two slices of toast, coffee and fruit for breakfast. Lunch is a turkey, ham or tuna sandwich on low-calorie bread with light soup. Dinner is a six-ounce sirloin, baked potato and side salad. Between meals, she has fruit. For a late-night snack she has popcorn or Weight Watchers ice cream.
Exercise routine: "I now work out an average of five days a week at the gym," she says. "I love Zumba and a few other group fitness classes such as aqua aerobics and step. However, I lost my first 40 pounds without exercise just following the Weight Watchers plan. After losing the 40 pounds, I finally felt like working out."
Biggest challenge: "I really didn't have any challenges," she says. "Just stayed focused one day at a time and kept motivation up by attending my weekly meetings."
How life has changed: "The best thing is my seven-year-old son hugging me around the waist and being shocked that his hands touch now when he puts his arms around me," she says. "It was also great when my 12-year-old son was shocked when we went out for a walk and I started running, since he has never seen me run. It's amazing what unexpected changes come along. Fitting inside of a booth to have dinner, fitting inside of a ride at the park, and having the bath towel actually fit around you are speechless reasons to lose the weight. Now I know I will have a longer healthier life for me and my family."
