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 / Christine Calderon, 40: From 260 pounds to 143 pounds.
Former weight: 260 pounds
Current weight: 143 pounds
Pounds lost: 117 pounds
Height: 5 foot 5 inches
Age: 40 years
How long she's kept it off: She started August 2013 and reached her current weight in August 2014.
Personal life: "I am a marketing manager," said Calderon. "I'm single and have two cats; my mother and sister live locally in metro Atlanta as well. I live in Woodstock."
Turning point: "I work for a company that offers a Weight Watchers At Work program. They sent an email to see who would be interested … My father lost quite a bit of weight through Weight Watchers," she said. "Unfortunately, I lost my father in 2010. Knowing with family health history and my own personal connection with Weight Watchers I thought it was a sign … from the universe: time to take control of my health … Weight Watchers has given me a structure and platform to make healthy choices — it is more than about the weight, it's about generally being healthy."
Diet plan: Her day starts with oatmeal or an egg-white omelet with veggies and sausage. Lunch is a salad and half a sandwich. Dinner is grilled chicken, brown rice and veggies.
Exercise routine: "I do some form of exercise every day … When I got to 75 pounds, I rewarded myself with a treadmill so I could have it in my home," she said. "I am fortunate to work in a building with access to a gym. I also have a gym membership. I have also started to enjoy running. I'm going to do my first 10K: the AJC Peachtree Road Race … I did not enjoy running. I used to tell my friends the only time I would run is if someone was chasing me."
Biggest challenge: "Getting started is very difficult … You have to overcome that inertia and get the momentum going … Once you see success you get motivated and you continually push yourself."
How life has changed: "Losing weight has actually made me gain self-confidence," she said. "When you are overweight, you try to be invisible. You chose to fade into the background … I am clearly more confident and that is evidenced in my personal and professional life … I found the program that worked with my lifestyle that I could sustain and that I feel improved my life all around; not just my weight, but my physical health, my mental health, my emotional health all improved through this process … I would love for people to read [my story] and see themselves and think 'I can do that.'"
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