DeAnn McEntire wished she had gotten healthy before now. Hear her story.  

My name is DeAnn McEntire. I am 60 years old and a retired schoolteacher with 35 years of teaching experience. I have been married to Gary for 36 years, and we have one son. We recently became grandparents. Our granddaughter is one of the reasons I joined Sparkle Wellness. I knew I had to get healthy and fit to best care for her.  

I joined in July 2024, lost 20 pounds, and am maintaining that weight loss. I knew I needed to change my health and eating habits after my father passed away last year. I was stressed and did not care what I put in my body. I had not been taking good care of myself, which showed in every aspect of my life. Boo Gibson and I have been friends for years, and  

I knew how Sparkle had changed her life. I had been doing races with the Sparkle community for a few years and saw the difference it was making in their lives. I reached out to Jacynta Harb, and she got me started on this journey of health and wellness.  

One of my biggest changes was learning to eat  healthier. Jacynta and I visited Whole Foods and  Kroger together. She showed me healthy alternatives.  I learned to read labels and ingredients. If you cannot  pronounce it, do not put it in your body. I am eating  foods I did not know existed and like them. That is a  huge breakthrough for me.  

I work out 3 to 4 times weekly. I learned the  importance of strength training, which has made an  enormous difference. I also walk 3 miles twice a week.  I do at least one race every month. I do not run, but  I walk fast. This is the thing I love most about Sparkle.  I am in a community of people who inspire and  encourage me to do my best every day. No one is left  behind in this journey of wellness.  

My biggest challenge is falling back into old  eating habits. I love Chick-fil-A and would eat there  at least twice a week. I still go, but not as often, and I  choose healthier options. My biggest downfall is their  sweet tea. I now order half and half sweet/unsweet  tea. Jacynta has a quote in her office: “Don’t give  up what you want MOST for what you want at the  moment!” It is all about choices. I choose what I put  into my mouth and the activities I do.  

Top 3 Challenges 

  1. Falling into old eating habits. Eat a piece of fruit for  a snack instead of a cookie. (Do not even buy it.) 
  2. Talking myself out of a workout. Get up in the  morning and work out. I feel better when it is over. 
  3. Stress eating. Eating _____ now will make me feel  better. It does not make me feel better later.  

It took a long time to choose to be an official  member of Sparkle. Now that I am here, I do not  know what took me so long. I feel better, look better,  and finish races faster. Sparkle is not a diet but a  lifestyle change – your food, mind, and activity  choices. The best part is you are not alone on the  journey. Sparkle is a network of people encouraging,  supporting, and lifting you up when you fall.  

Registration is now open for Fall. For information  on Sparkle Wellness, contact Jacynta Harb at  www.sparkleanewyou.com or call 404-242-5062.