The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Losing the weight
Atlanta mom sheds 59 pounds
Former weight: 207 pounds
Current weight: 148 pounds
Pounds lost: 59 pounds Height: 5 feet 8.5 inches Age: 31 years
How long she’s kept it off: She started with a new year’s resolution in January and reached her current weight in September.
Personal life: “I have a 4-year-old daughter named Madisyn, a 1-year-old son, Cooper, and my husband, Daniel . ... My husband is beyond amazing ... and supportive. I live in Lithonia. I am a CPA senior auditor at a local firm here in Atlanta,” Coleman said.
Turning point: “As a mother once trying to get back in shape, I know how hard it can be trying to get inspired by fit women who haven’t had children or aren’t parents. One of my new year’s resolutions for 2017 was to get in the best shape of my life by leading a healthy lifestyle through eating more nutritious foods and regular exercise. I didn’t want to do a short-term diet and go back to old eating habits. I wanted a permanent lifestyle change. Before I turned 30, I wanted to change at 30, but I was pregnant at 30. I needed time to heal. I started working out right after I had him at about six weeks, but nothing regular until this year. I wanted to be one of those people who get up early and run 5 miles. I started out working out early. I try to go work out before my kids get up and then come back and get them ready . ... I want to be healthy for them.”
Diet plan: She follows the 6-4-2-2 plan of six veggies, four proteins, two carbs and two fruits. Breakfast is egg whites and a smoothie with fruit. Lunch is grilled chicken and steamed veggies. Dinner is grilled lean meat or fish with roasted veggies.
Exercise routine: “I have cut it down to four to five days a week now. I still do group training at Carla Fields Fitness. I began doing group training around mid-April. I was about 176 pounds and 35 percent body fat when I started . ... After a little over three months, I had reached 20 percent body fat.”
Biggest challenge: “Making sure I was disciplined. ... I think what was different this time was my mentality. You hire a personal trainer and you want them to do it for you, but they can’t go through the entire day with you and control what goes in your mouth . ... Discipline and consistency are two important things when you are starting to be successful for doing anything . ... The goal was to create a new habit for myself . ... Now it if I miss a day it feels weird.”
How life has changed: “When I started, I wanted exercising and eating healthy to become unconscious habits that I didn’t think about doing, and I’ve certainly reached that point. Discipline and consistency are key.”
SHARE YOUR SUCCESS
Have you lost weight successfully with a healthy lifestyle change? If you would like to share your story with our readers, please include your email address, a daytime phone number, and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG), and contact us at: Success Stories, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or email Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.