Karen Wilson, 35, of Dunwoody lost 59 pounds
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SUCCESS STORY / Karen Wilson, 35: From 220 pounds to 161 pounds
Former weight: 220 pounds
Current weight: 161 pounds
Pounds lost: 59 pounds
Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Age: 35 years
How long she's kept it off: "I went back to Weight Watchers in June 2011," said Wilson who reached her current weight in December. Her ultimate goal is to lose 20 more pounds.
Personal life: Wilson lives in Dunwoody. "I teach eighth grade language arts with Gwinnett County Public Schools and this is my 14th year teaching. I have a boyfriend of five years."
Turning point: "I've always been overweight — as a child, a teenager and in college," she said. "My sister announced her engagement [last January]. Somebody made the comment, 'The pictures are forever.' I thought, I have to make some changes; that was the point where I said I am ready." She contacted wellness coach Jacynta Harb, (www.sparkleanewyou.com), who was featured in Success Stories in 2006. "I felt like for the first time in my life, I can do this; I can reach my goal."
Diet plan: "I track all the food that goes into my mouth," she said. "I told myself … I am going to enter what goes into my mouth, otherwise, I'd be cheating myself and I wanted to be very honest with myself." Breakfast is a boiled egg, English muffin, fruit and coffee. Lunch is leftovers and dinner is chicken with vegetables.
Exercise routine: "I wear my Fitbit everyday," she said. "Usually just a regular day, I average 7,000 steps." She walks two to three days a week. Last year, she ran six 5Ks and one 10K.
Biggest challenge: "Letting go of my perfection mentality," she said. "Every day is not perfect, but I continue moving forward … That was a big deal for me to realize — I didn't have to be perfect every day. It is so much more mental … people get focused on 'what am I supposed to eat?' that comes later. You have to have your mind in the right place first."
How life has changed: "I'm the smallest now that I've ever been in my life … I have done several things this year that [would have] scared me in the past …" She also dropped four sizes, her level of fitness has increased and so has her self-confidence. "Weight-loss success is not just about what you eat, but the changes you make in your mind … You have to know who you are and mentally what makes you move forward [to] be successful. You have to find out what works for you," she said. "My new word is dream. I am going to dream big this year."
