Blogging Helped Joan Get Fit in Her 50s

Every week, we introduce you to bloggers who share their weight-loss journeys and hefty doses of inspiration with their readers. This week's featured blogger is Joan from Joanie's Weigh.

Name: Joan Jacobsen

Age: 58

Start Weight: 192 pounds

Current Weight: 132 pounds

Goal Weight: 142 pounds

My Weight Loss Approach: Unlike many of the Success Stories featured on That's Fit, I was not an overweight person my entire life. Middle age finally caught up with me, and I started gaining weight in my late 40s. Although I wasn't overweight earlier in life, I never watched what I ate, I smoked cigarettes and I wasn't active. By the time I was 50, I was 35 pounds heavier than when I was in my 20s.

The defining moment of my weight gain was 18 months after I had quit smoking. At this point, I weighed nearly 200 pounds. To me, it was surreal -- I didn't think it could be me. It was almost as if I was living outside of my body.

A couple of years ago, I received a trip to Disney World as a Christmas gift from my husband. I knew I would never go to a hotel where I would have to don a bathing suit or shorts at my size, and I had also made a promise to myself that I would never purchase clothing that had an X after its size. I was getting closer with every shopping trip. I had to make a commitment to myself. I cashed in the trip for a Wii Fit exercise program.

My weight loss approach was straightforward -- I simply made healthy changes to my lifestyle. I had tried many different diets before; my solution was to come up with my own program that would work for me. I took simple steps with one goal in mind, and that was to become fit and healthy. My doctor had advised me to lower my fat intake, so I began eating low-fat foods and doing aerobic exercise. I devised my own program; I call it "Joanie's Weigh." I work in the health care industry, and I wanted to become a poster child for the system that signed my paycheck every week. I did not want to become a patient or another statistic living with diabetes or heart disease.

Why I wanted to blog about it: Once I started getting healthy, family and friends asked me to pen my successful journey, so I began a blog.

The best part of blogging is: Accountability. Blogging keeps me honest -- I always practice what I preach. I would not write anything that would deceive my readers.

Best comment I've received: Readers tell me that I inspire them, and it always means a lot to me. People are also always encouraging me to keep up the good work, which I love as well.

What's next for my blog: Ideally, I'd like to put together a weight loss subscription program that gives members access to members-only content and other benefits. I'd also like to start a Q&A feature and possibly provide downloadable guides.

Joan has maintained her 60-pound weight loss for more than a year.