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 / Robyn P. Wong, 55: From 175 pounds to 125 pounds.
Former weight: 175 pounds
Current weight: 125 pounds
Pounds lost: 50 pounds
Height: 5 feet, 1 inch
Age: 55 years
How long she's kept it off: She began in 2008 and met her goal in July.
Personal life: "I live in Roswell, Ga., with my husband, Chris and cat, Ransom," said Wong. "I'm an elementary school early intervention program (EIP) reading teacher in Cherokee County. I adore helping children find books they love to read and fostering a love of reading in people of all ages."
Turning point: "I began to be concerned about my weight when I lost a colleague to pancreatic cancer. I realized life is very short, and it must be lived with meaning and purpose," she said. "Initially, I just prayed about weight loss. I really didn't know how to start to exercise or to make healthy changes in my diet. I was addicted to carbohydrates and sugar." She tried different exercise programs and began losing weight. "I had dropped 20 pounds through exercise but still was carrying too much weight. It was time to get additional help to get my food intake under control." In January, she joined Sparkle Johnson Ferry Wellness Classes for coaching with Jacynta Harb (sparkleanewyou.com). "I have learned the skills I needed to lose weight and keep it off forever."
Diet plan: "A diet is something you start and stop; a healthy and fit lifestyle is an ongoing lifestyle choice." Her day starts with a green smoothie, coffee and oatmeal. Lunch is a salad with protein. She snacks on yogurt and fruit and dinner is salmon and vegetables.
Exercise routine: "I walk/run/walk using the Galloway Method (www.jeffgalloway.com) three times a week for about an hour each time. On alternating Saturdays, if I'm training for an upcoming event, it may be longer."
Biggest challenge: "My biggest challenge was emotional eating when I was tired or stressed, and not taking time to plan and pack healthy food and snacks for the day."
How life has changed: "Now that I have reached a healthy weight I feel more confident, joyful and energetic," she said. "My secret to success is faith … I've started co-writing a fitness devotional to share ideas and tips learned along the journey. It is my hope to encourage and inspire others to begin to make healthy lifestyle changes." Her advice: "Think positively, pray, never give up — if this former exercise-hating couch potato can do it, so can you."
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