Dropping pounds: Jane Keidel

56, Valley Stream

Dec. 25, 2011 - 162

Oct. 17, 2012 - 113

"I ate whatever my students ate for lunch: hot dogs, cupcakes, tacos, even whatever they brought in for parties," says Keidel.

Menopause tacked on another 20 pounds. She did try once to lose weight, joining Jenny Craig and losing 30 pounds, but it didn't stick. "I put it right back on when I went back to eating the same way," Keidel says, adding that divorce was the catalyst to her weight loss. "It was so stressful that my wheat and gluten allergies from childhood flared up," Keidel says. "I lost 49 pounds in five months."

"Thank God for the allergies because I had to change my diet," Keidel says. "I eliminated wheat from my diet and tried to eat only whole foods. I ate nothing processed or that came out of a box.'' She says that her continued success is due, in part, to the health-focused catering company at the school. "The chef makes everything fresh. There are always fresh fruits and vegetables on the salad bar."

Keidel says she no longer has carbohydrate cravings and is able to continue her healthful eating habits at home."My eating is in balance now," Keidel says.