Talk about your dynamic duo!

In the mid-1990s, Patti Pottebaum and her husband, Gary, kicked their 20-year smoking habits. The couple, who live in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, say that attacking the problem as a team helped them succeed.

But in the months that followed, the usually trim Patti and Gary found their waistlines expanding—a byproduct, they believe, of substituting snacks for smoking. In 2 years, they wound up gaining 48 pounds between them.

So, in January 1997,41-year-old Patti and 44-year-old Gary decided to slim down. “We were tired of having to loosen our belts and buy bigger clothing,” Patti explains. “Plus, we were beginning to experience some post-40 aches and pains. We just didn’t feel like ourselves.”

Because the team approach had worked so well when they quit smoking, Patti and Gary decided to use it again to lose weight. They agreed to cook and eat low-fat meals loaded with fruits and vegetables; red meats and fried foods were to be used only sparingly.

Although they initially exercised separately—she with step-aerobics classes, he with running—workouts became a team effort before long. “We have always been a couple who enjoys doing things together, so we started walking in the mornings before work,” Patti says. “I had an easier time staying motivated when I knew that I’d be exercising with Gary.” They even kept things interesting by golfing together and placing friendly wagers on each round.

Neither Pottebaum wants to let the other one down by blowing off a workout. For example, since Gary is more lively in the mornings, his get-up-and-go helps Patti get out of bed, even if she initially says that she’s not in the mood for walking. Their commitment to wellness and to each other resulted in Patti losing 25 pounds and Gary losing 23 in a little more than 9 months.

Now that they are back to their trim sizes—she a 10 or 12, he a 36-inch waist—the Pottebaums have no intention of falling out of shape. “I like being in good shape, and I feel so much better,” Gary says. “We want to stay active and healthy forever so we can enjoy the rest of our lives to the fullest.”

WINNING ACTION

Recruit your spouse as a workout partner. Getting active with your spouse has definite advantages. Because you live under the same roof you can keep tabs on each other and motivate each other. And you won’t want to let the other person down by reneging on your workouts. Not cohabitating? Exercise with a parent, sibling, or child—someone who cares about your health and supports your weight-loss goals.

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