The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Success story
Jorina Preyan Hill, 50: From 233 pounds to 170 pounds
Current weight: 170 pounds
Pounds lost: 63 pounds
Height: 5 feet 5 inches
Age: 50 years
How long she’s kept it off: She started in November 2018, reaching her current weight in March.
Personal life: “I’m a former ICU nurse currently working on my real estate license,” Hill said. “I just got married in August 2019 to my high school sweetheart. We reconnected through Facebook. I cheered for two NFL teams, the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins.” She lives in Locust Grove.
Turning point: “Like most people, you start and you stop. I followed this column, and the people in it motivated me. I would take out some of the things each person had (done), and I put a program together from that,” she said. “I lost 25 pounds, and then life happened.” A friend, Tanya Mitchell Graham, featured in Success Stories in 2019, led her to a trainer. “I would see her losing all this weight and I would say what is your secret?” Hill said. “She told me she was going to her personal trainer, Carla Fields at Carla Fields Fitness Inc. That was my turning point. I was injured at work in 2012. I had never been that heavy. I wanted to get back to the me I knew. … I also did J.J. Smith’s 6-Weeks to Sexy program … but I was working with Carla for exercise.”
Diet plan: She has oatmeal for breakfast, smoothies, salad for lunch, and protein with vegetables for dinner.
Exercise routine: “I exercise three times per week with Carla,” Hill said. She does cardio at home. “I think the No. 1 thing that worked for me is the treadmill,” she said. “… Start off with the incline at the highest level, 15, at a speed of 2.8 to 3.0 mph. I have burned 700 calories (doing that). It’s very impactful.”
Biggest challenge: “The biggest challenge for me is maintenance,” Hill said. “It’s just so easy to fall back into your natural state. … I don’t necessarily eat bad — I drink bad. I like soda, I like juice, I like very high-sugary drinks and chips. … If I don’t plan my meals, I don’t naturally choose the best stuff.”
How life has changed: “I just feel more confident,” Hill said. “I’m proud of the accomplishment because it’s not easy; it’s just hard to maintain and to stay on the right track. My family has a history of diabetes, hypertension and some cancer. I feel like I am doing what I need to do to prevent the health elements that are a history for my family. … This is my vessel, God gave us this vessel. … It’s up to me to take care of it. … I’m still on my journey, not necessarily at my goal weight. … I feel sexier. You just have to find out what your body needs. … It’s a journey, and it’s one that doesn’t stop. It’s not about perfection — it’s about developing a lifestyle.”
Share Your Success: Each week, Success Stories focuses on an individual’s unique weight loss journey. The Atlanta JournalConstitution does not endorse any specific weight loss program but includes names and links for the benefit of readers who want further information. 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, 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.
‘I just feel more confident. I’m proud of the accomplishment because it’s not easy; it’s just hard to maintain and to stay on the right track.’ Jorina Preyan Hill