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Woman Realizes Longtime Dream Of Losing Almost 60 Pounds

Photo from Diana Manning and Tribune photo by D’ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

Diana Manning weighed in at 191 pounds two years ago, far left. At 135 pounds today, near left, Diana Manning said she regained both her confidence and her health. Manning is holding an example of some of the weight she has lost in the near left photo.

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 13, 2009

BRANDON - Everyone around her groans as Diana Manning pats her flat belly and announces she wants to lose another five pounds.

At 5 feet 31/2 inches tall, her trim, 135-pound, size-six figure doesn't appear to have a pound to spare.

"Oh, I could stand to lose just a few more," she says.

But she isn't going to fret over five pounds. During the past year, the 61-year-old woman proved to herself she could do anything when she achieved the longtime dream of losing nearly 60 pounds.

She said she may have lost pounds, but she gained self-esteem, confidence — and most importantly health — when she went from a size 18 to a size six after signing up for the Results Weight Loss program in Bradenton in April 2008.

"Five years ago, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure related to my weight," she said. "In addition, I have systemic lupus. I knew I needed to change something or I wouldn't be around. I had to get it into my mind that I just had to do it."

She was an ambassador for the Bradenton chamber of commerce, and Results Weight Loss happened to be a new member of the chamber. So she decided to give the program a try.

"The first month, I lost seven inches, and I started building confidence," she said. "Now, I've lost a total of 60 inches, and I think I'm 10 feet tall and bullet-proof."

In 1976, Manning was named the top makeup artist in Florida for Lancôme, an upscale makeup line. However, she was usurped in the industry by younger, thinner makeup artists and never had the confidence to get back into the line of work she loved.

That changed last year when she successfully lost the weight.

"I felt attractive again," she said.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524.

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