Turning Her Life Around
After
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Before
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| Name |
Jo Anne |
| Age |
32 |
| Height |
5'6" |
| Was |
273 lbs
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| Lost |
109.1 lbs*
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| Weight |
163.9 lbs
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| As of |
2/2/2010 |
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| *People following the Weight Watchers plan can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week. |
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“I had the support of my two co-workers who shared their tips and own struggles with me.”
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It took two painful losses for Jo Anne to realize she had to start putting herself first and change the way she was living.I’ve always been an outgoing and likeable person, working hard to make others happy. But I’ve also struggled with weight my entire life. When my father passed away from congestive heart failure at age 56 and my mother developed a debilitating disease at 48, I knew I was headed for a similar fate. I finally realized that I needed to make me happy.
Making the decision
After researching several programs, I decided to subscribe to Weight Watchers Online and follow the POINTS® Weight-Loss System. I knew it would show me how to live a healthier lifestyle without leaving me dependent on program meals.
Weight Watchers made me realize that losing weight was simply a “numbers game” – that by reducing what I was eating and increasing my exercise, I could easily reach my goal. I lost my first 50 pounds* simply by watching what I was eating and tracking POINTS values.
After I lost 50 pounds*, I made exercise a mandatory part of my weekly routine. I’m fortunate to work for a company that promotes healthy lifestyles, so I work out at lunch and after work four days a week. My workouts include cardio boot camp, strength training, Pilates and yoga. I’ve even noticed how much stronger I’m getting, and started to see muscle tone in my back, chest, arms and legs.
Reaching another milestone
My dream was to someday go from a size 24 to a size 8. I set gradual goals to help me succeed. When I finally got into a size 8, I let out a cheer in the fitting room. I’ve noticed other benefits, too, like that I’m able to manage the stress in my life better. I credit that to my increased happiness and sense of well-being.
The boost in confidence allowed me to take risks I wouldn’t have in the past. I got a promotion to my dream job, found the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and I look forward to waking up every morning. I even became a certified scuba diver – something that would have been very difficult when I was overweight.
The icing on the cake
Every girl’s dream is to get a makeover in New York City, so I jumped on the opportunity to have my hair and makeup done at the Inspiring Stories photo shoot. It was so cool to have a celebrity stylist pamper you! I got a sleek, short haircut and color — the stylist said it would make my neck look longer and thinner. I also learned how to do a low-maintenance makeup routine.
Sharing the inspiration
My family, friend and co-workers are all amazed by my weight loss; some were even inspired to subscribe to Weight Watchers Online as well. I even had a client use my “before” and “after” pictures to motivate her co-workers for their weight loss challenge!
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