Couple shares shocking weight loss after losing over 200 pounds together

August Miller was “terrified.” His doctor told him he was prediabetic, and he knew from his family how difficult it was to manage type 2 diabetes.

The 54-year-old, who lives in the Port of Los Angeles, told Weekly newspaper: “I want to make sure that it doesn’t get elevated, or to the point where a certain drug is unacceptable.

“I don’t want that to happen, I want to live longer. As I get older, I start thinking about serving myself and my family.”

August decided he had to do something to improve his health. He and his wife Teresa, 52, signed up for a weight loss program and lost a combined 217.8 pounds.Below, the couple describe Weekly newspaper How they do it.

Together we lost 227 lbs

August and Teresa are a little skeptical about the meal plan. However, family members had tried Weight Watchers, and Teresa wanted more information.

“We went to a meeting and they explained the plan to him. He thought it would work, so we all joined that day,” she told Weekly newspaper.

August added: “I like structure so when they explained the plan to me I really liked the way it was laid out. I like that the food is not restricted and I can eat whatever I want within reason something. point range.

“The program appealed to me and I knew it was time for a change. She convinced me to go with her to a workshop, and it’s been that way ever since. I still go to workshops to this day.”

When August started Weight Watchers, he wore a size 5XL and had to buy clothes from specialty retailers, which cost much more than regular stores. After losing 184 pounds, his clothing size is XL, which means he can go shopping at the mall.

Teresa weighed 208 pounds when they joined the program. She lost 33.4 pounds, went from a size 18 to a size 10-12, and says she’s never felt more confident in her body.

“I had to donate most of my clothes to charity, and there were probably six bags of shirts and pants that were too big for me,” August said.

Teresa added: “Now we can buy clothes in the same place, it’s one of the fun things we do together. It’s a joy to be able to walk into a store and enjoy shopping without spending a fortune. A lighthearted feeling.” Not for him anymore. “

It took August six years to lose 184.4 pounds. His wife had a smaller weight loss goal, which she achieved in five months.

“We’d celebrate her milestones, and that was motivating for me. It gave me something worth striving for,” August said.

Through previous diets, Teresa has struggled to maintain her weight in the long-term. Not this time, she said. “It’s never happened before. Without Weight Watchers, I would have gained weight again. We hold each other accountable and are very active.”

She added that the program focuses on “how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and if you do eat a calorie-dense meal, they teach you to keep going like it’s no big deal.”

It’s not just for women, men can get help too

Before the couple signed up, August believed the program was for women. Most of the commercials he’s seen give that impression. “I was surprised to learn that men can also seek help,” he said.

In his first workshop, he met others in similar positions, and he found out more on Connect, the program’s digital community.

“Through my wife, I found a group on social apps called WW bros, which is for men. We can compare diets or what we are eating. Through this group, I have found many friends and a lot of support.”

before weight loss

When August was at his heaviest, he often felt like he had little energy or stamina. But his biggest problem is “being uncomfortable in his own skin”, especially in social situations where special arrangements have to be made for him.

He said: “I always feel like I’m the biggest person in the room. When we go to restaurants, I can’t sit at a table and I have to ask for a chair. Most planes can’t accommodate me and I always have to use an extension bar to sit. Down. It’s been a big struggle for me. I also don’t want to be a burden to my wife or family. I just want to be self-sufficient, live comfortably, and feel better.”

In those days, the couple spent a lot of time binge eating in front of the TV, not knowing how many calories they were consuming.

“We can easily eat over 3,000 calories a day,” August says, “especially on the weekends, where we’ll go out and eat whatever we want, as much as we want. We’ll say, ‘Let’s go get a Pizza or a burger.’ We didn’t really think about what we ate.”

Their breakfasts are high in carbohydrates, such as breads, pastries, and burritos. Dinner is never planned, they often go to McDonald’s or pizza, or whatever is quick and easy.

The biggest weakness in August was sugary soda. He would eat two cans full of sugar with one meal and more throughout the day. Teresa has a sweet tooth, she said, “so for me, it’s cakes, cookies, pastries or donuts.”

after weight loss

The Millers now plan every meal and make sure the fridge is stocked with healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.

“For breakfast, we have oatmeal, coffee, and maybe fruit like a banana or an apple,” says August. “For a snack, I’ll have low-fat cheese or fruit, and for lunch maybe a sandwich with a lean protein like chicken or turkey. Or sometimes we’ll have brown rice and another lean protein. Then for dinner, We eat some salads, vegetables with protein.”

Teresa added: “Sometimes we also make pasta. If we have a hamburger, maybe we wrap it in lettuce. We can still have chips, but we don’t fry them in oil anymore, we use air Fryers. We use things that help us lower the calorie content.”

this changed our lives

“I have a game plan right now,” August said. “I log all my meals. I like having things planned and the plan is easy to follow. I like knowing it’s good for me, it makes me feel better and hopefully I live longer because of it.”

Theresa said the scheme had not only changed “the way we feel or look”. It changed their lives. “It brings us closer together as a couple because now we share a common goal of staying healthy and living a good life.”

She added: “Compared to what we used to do before we sat down to watch TV after eating. Now we are more active and always doing interesting things. It just opens up a whole new world of healthy living that wasn’t there before .”

One example, she said, is their stationary bikes. “We plan our rides and recommend each other things like the best ride settings and music. We just motivate each other.”

Family and friends have also been supportive and excited for them. August’s transformation has been so dramatic that some friends fear he may have health problems. They were surprised when he explained that he had only lost weight.

Teresa said: “Every time we meet someone we haven’t seen in a long time, they say, ‘Oh my god, you look amazing. You look healthy and happy.'” No one has ever said that to us before if. “