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 / June Cline, 62: From 176 pounds to 126 pounds
Former weight: 176 pounds
Current weight: 126 pounds
Pounds lost: 50 pounds
Height: 5 feet, 3 inches
Age: 62 years
How long she's kept it off: Started in May and reached her current weight in December.
Personal life: "I live in Kennesaw, Ga., with the light of my life, Jerry E. Cline, and a crazed Shih Tzu named Lucky," says Cline. "I'm a certified speaking professional (CSP), with over 25 years of experience (www.junecline.com)." I'm the southern sassy and savvy Harley-riding humorist with a one-woman show, 'Make It a Great Ride!' which I'll perform on Jan. 17 at the Red Door Playhouse in Roswell." For details, click here. She also has a podcast, and co-authored, "Happiness Recipe: Whippin' up happiness with wit, wisdom and wonderful food!"
Turning point: "My significant moment this time was the need to go up a size into size 16 pants for the fourth time in my lifetime of yo-yo weight gain and I refused to go there one more time … Nothing was working this time. I almost resigned myself to the fact that I was 62 and apparently had reached that age where it was just going to be the way it is." She began training with the author of "Simple Fat Burn: Three Steps To Becoming Fit & Lean," Cathryn Marshall, in May. "I reached my goal weight on Oct. 10, 2015 … Today I am 14 pounds below my goal weight."
Diet plan: Breakfast is an egg and egg whites, avocado and black coffee with stevia. Mid-morning she has tuna. Lunch is boiled shrimp and spinach salad. Dinner is tilapia with asparagus.
Exercise routine: "I choose to work out at o-dark-thirty all five weekdays. I must be in the gym before 7 a.m. because by the time I truly wake up, I'm half-way done with my workout."
Biggest challenge: "Biggest challenge for me was letting go of sugar — I was so addicted."
How life has changed: "I'm so much more confident, spunky, sassy and savvy. Getting up to go exercise every weekday at o-dark thirty is a habit now … One of my biggest ah-ha's was the lack of fog brain/sugar sluggishness — it really made a difference for me. Do I still OD on my amazing homemade brownies and at parties from time to time? Absolutely! And, I feel it and pay for it the next day. One of the major reasons I wanted to get fit and healthy and thin was to continue to be active as I grow into an awesome and hot senior — I plan to be riding my Harley at 82."
