Kathy Melton Lost 94 Pounds

BY JOSIE SWINDLER

Kathy went from 240 pounds to 146 pounds by exercising every day!
My turning point: We were sightseeing on vacation, and I couldn’t keep up with my family because I was so exhausted. My husband, who has a bad back, was running circles around me. And my kids kept saying, “Oh God, Mom’s sick again.” That’s when I realized that my weight was causing a real problem.

My slim-down techniques: I exercise six days a week. I also cut out sugar and switched from regular soda to diet. I swapped from whole milk to fat-free as well.

Kept the weight off: A year.

My best motivator: Keeping up with my kids. And the compliments I receive! At the child-care center where I work, a kid said to me, “Miss Kathy, you look so nice today.” No one had ever said that to me before!

My greatest temptation: Bread. I gave up white bread, and now I eat only wheat.

My favorite diet food: Subway sandwiches. I always get the six-inch turkey-ham with vegetables on wheat bread. It’s about 290 calories. I also buy a lot of Healthy Choice and Lean Cuisine frozen meals.

My snacking tips: I like baby carrots, granola bars and Yoplait yogurt. I usually try to eat something every four hours; otherwise I’ll get famished and binge.

My exercise routine: Almost every day, I alternate between bicycling and walking. Three days a week, I do sit-ups, pushups and weight resistance for around 30 minutes.

Slim-down advice: Don’t give up. Set short-term goals that you can actually meet.

The payoff: Feeling great and having self-confidence. I feel better today than I did when I was in my 20s.