Jean Higgerson and Jane Yates Lost a Combined 129 Pounds

BY KATE SCHWAB

Names: Identical twins Jean Higgerson and Jane Yates

Location: Kewanee, MO

Worst of times:
Jean: 200 pounds
Jane: 185 pounds

Best of times:
Jean: 126 pounds
Jane: 130 pounds

Our turning point:
Jean: My sister had already lost 55 pounds, and for our next family picture, I didn’t want to be photographed next to her looking so much heavier!
Jane: Diabetes runs in my family, so I knew I needed to lose weight for health reasons.

Our slim-down techniques:
Jean and Jane: We counted calories and kept a daily food journal listing everything we ate. We also drank tons of water and tried to stay away from high-fat foods.

Kept the weight off:
Jean: Five months so far
Jane: Two years

Our best motivator:
Jean and Jane: Being able to buy smaller clothes!
Jean: I only weigh myself once a month, so when I see the pounds coming off, it inspires me to keep going.
Jane: Compliments from friends. One in particular told me that she was so inspired by my weight loss, she started dieting too.

Our greatest temptation:
Jean: Chocolate candy bars like Butterfingers or Three Musketeers.
Jane: Ice cream.

Our favorite diet food:
Jean: I top a 16-ounce can of tuna with some tasty veggie salsa and a few crackers.
Jane: I toss a bunch of veggies with garlic and peppers, then have a side of garlic toast made with low-fat spray butter.

Our snacking tips:
Jean and Jane: Oat and yogurt granola bars, sugar-free Jell-O with a dollop of Reddi-Whip or apples and oranges.

Our exercise routine:
Jean: I use hand weights and do a series of leg lifts, lunges and crunches plus stretching three times a week.
Jane: I walk three miles, four times a week.

Slim-down advice:
Jean and Jane: Make the commitment to start a diet and follow through with it. If one day you falter, keep going the next day.

The payoff:
Jean: Being able to wear smaller sizes—and getting complimented from coworkers and friends.
Jane: After I slimmed down, my doctor didn’t even recognize me. He said that losing all the weight was more beneficial than anything he could have ever done for me!