Silver Spring Woman Featured in People Magazine's Weight Loss Issue

SILVER SPRING, MD — Oprah and her battles with food may be on the cover of the Jan. 23 issue of People magazine, but Silver Spring resident Diana Anguh is also prominently featured in the annual weight loss issue. She is one of six people featured in the magazine's Half Their Size issue – and tells readers how she keeps the weight off after slimming down from 275 pounds to 135 pounds over 16 months.

Anguh, 24, of Silver Spring, MD, used food as her “comfort zone.” She was 275 pounds as a high school senior when she decided to join a gym and work out every day.

“I had a goal, and I was going to reach it,” says Anguh in the People article. “After about two months of hitting the gym, I focused on eating less. Rather than eating an entire pizza, I would just have one slice. In the first eight months, I dropped 100 pounds, and I hit my goal weight another eight months later.”

Six years later, Anguh has gone through culinary training and become an executive chef. She credits cooking for herself — and avoiding pizza and other takeout food — with dropping the pounds.

“It’s tough being around food all day, but I get through it by planning my meals. That way I know exactly what to eat and when, without snacking," Anguh said. "My life has drastically changed – I’m more confident.”

»Photos of Diana Anguh of Silver Spring and Oprah Winfrey, courtesy of People magazine