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 / Shawna Buice, 36: From 200 pounds to 170 pounds
Former weight: 200 pounds
Current weight: 170 pounds
Pounds lost: 30 pounds
Height: 5 feet, 4 inches
Age: 36 years
How long she's kept it off: She started in January and reached her current weight in early July.
Personal life: "I am a full-time criminal justice student thru Liberty University online pursuing a bachelor of science in criminal justice: homeland security. I will graduate in May 2016," said Buice, who lives in Acworth. "I live with my husband, Chris, and our son Will, 18. We've been married 1 ½ years. We currently have two, four-legged kids: Athena and Simba, and looking to add a third as I am epileptic and my doctor has highly suggested I get a service animal. I am an independent team Beachbody coach (www.beachbodycoach.com/islandtime1106).
Turning point: "I was tired of being depressed and my favorite clothes not fitting, and feeling run down and not having energy to do anything. I have tried just about all programs and diet pills and shots out there, but none of them worked. The biggest factor on why it worked this time is I was encouraged, held accountable and supported by an amazing team that was doing this as well — I wasn't alone."
Diet plan: Breakfast is scrambled eggs with veggies and cheese wrapped in flat bread along with fruit. Lunch is a Shakeology brand shake with almond milk, Greek yogurt and fruit. Dinner is baked chicken, steamed veggies and rice.
Exercise routine: She does a 30-minute DVD workout seven days a week.
Biggest challenge: She said learning to eat proportionately, healthy and correctly was her biggest challenge.
How life has changed: "I am more energetic; I'm not dragging around all the time. I am more confident in myself and my image," she said. "I'm still doing the 21-day fix eating plan … and I'm still losing pounds and inches. I am a survivor of PTSD, I refuse to let it claim me … The secret to my success was having the support group through my coach and being consistent. Even when I wanted to quit, I had good reason to — I had a foot broken in five spots and now I'm recovering from major wrist surgery, I chose to keep moving. My goals and dreams far outweighed my 30 minutes a day of sweating." Her advice: "Don't let the number on the scale define your success. Often times you'll have a non-scale victory before you have a scale victory. You'll see an inch lost before a pound lost at times."
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