Dropping lbs: Suzanne and Jack A. Cascio

THEIR STORY While Jack A. Cascio had been overweight most of his life, Suzanne Cascio says she gained weight after having four children.

"I've battled my weight since junior high," says Jack, who said his commitment as leader of Cub Scout Pack 64 was part of the reason he wanted to lose weight and get in shape.

"I'd have to show them how to do something but would be out of breath," Jack remembers. "I couldn't really show them how to do things. It didn't make me feel good about myself."

Suzanne's motivation started around the dinner table.

"I wanted us to be healthy for our kids, so we could be around to do things with them," says Suzanne, who was the one who decided they both would get in shape by eating better and going to the gym. "I knew we needed to set a good example for our children -- and follow through."

While Jack's downfall was portion size, Suzanne's was picking and snacking.

"You're pushing to get things done, and you eat five cookies instead of sitting down to eat a meal," Suzanne says of getting children -- ranging from 2 to 9 years -- off to school and to baby-sitters. "We'd also sit down at night and snack on things like pizza and ice cream."

DIET Because he's interested in building muscle, Jack starts his day with an omelet of six egg whites, a whole egg and either cheese or turkey. He snacks on popcorn or popcorn chips. Lunch is oatmeal, and dinner is a salad with lean protein.

Suzanne starts her day with an English muffin with peanut butter and half a banana. After the gym, she has a protein shake. Lunch is a sandwich and yogurt. She satisfies her urge to snack with something crunchy, such as popcorn. Dinner is a lean protein and salad.

EXERCISE They go to the gym together five to six days a week for 90 minutes, spending all but about 15 minutes lifting weights.

ADVICE "An hour a day in the gym is really minimal compared to what could happen if you're overweight," says Jack. "An hour a day will save me from medical problems down the road."

Adds Suzanne: "Exercising portion control and using Fitness Pal (myfitnesspal.com), an app where you can log your food intake and exercise, helped with portion and calorie control. And holding each other accountable also helped."