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 / Susan Geaslen, 47: From 170 pounds to 144 pounds
Former weight: 170 pounds
Current weight: 144 pounds
Pounds lost: 26 pounds
Height: 5 feet 8 inches
Age: 47 years
How long she's kept it off: She started in January and reached her goal mid-March. "I have maintained that weight within one to two pounds ever since," says Geaslen.
Personal life: "I am married to my wonderful husband, Jay, and have two daughters, Erica, 20, and Cassandra, 17. We live in Milton with our two dogs," she says. "I am a retired attorney and am now a personal health coach with Take Shape For Life and a Jazzercise instructor at the Northpoint Jazzercise Center in Alpharetta."
Turning point: "I have been a fitness instructor for 10 years but have struggled with my weight on and off. I had been trying to lose 20 pounds for a couple of years. Then the scale started creeping up a little more and that did it for me," she says. "I was also looking to supplement my income and was approached by my health coach with the opportunity to become a health coach myself. She suggested I try Take Shape For Life so that I could effectively coach clients. I learned through the books and workbooks in this program what my challenges were and what my unhealthy habits were and how to develop new healthy habits and learn the tools necessary to overcome my challenges."
Diet plan: To start, she ate five times per day with medically-formulated meal replacements and one meal of lean protein and vegetables. Now she eats five to six regular meals daily but limits portion sizes.
Exercise routine: "I am a Jazzercise instructor and I teach on average four to five classes per week," she says. She also takes kettlebell and Pilates classes and walks five to six miles on Sundays with her husband.
Biggest challenge: "My biggest challenge then and now has been my love of wine and sweets," she says, "but with this program, I am able to curb those sugar cravings because I eat on the lower end of the glycemic index which in turn keeps my insulin levels stable in my body and I do not crave the sweets or the wine."
How life has changed: "I have so much more energy now. I have a greater confidence level in myself and my abilities and I am helping others to reach their goals," she says. "I see myself being able to teach Jazzercise for quite some time now that I do not have the pressure of extra weight on my knees, hips and feet."
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