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Staffer, Husband Lost 275 Pounds Together

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If indulging in all of the goodies that go hand-in-hand with the holidays has left you with a spare tire around your waist that you are eager to lose, Sheree Gibson has some advice for you.        

“Over the past year, my husband, Marlon, and I have collectively lost 275 pounds,” said Gibson, area manager for the Freshman Experience Program at Georgia Tech. “We didn’t want to have surgery and didn’t use any magic pills. We did it the old fashioned way — by changing our diets and exercise habits.”

When their physician told them they were both at risk for developing diabetes and high blood pressure, it was a wake-up call.

“We changed our diets to include little to no processed foods and increased our fiber intake,” Gibson said. “Plus, we started working with a trainer, walking three times a week, cycling and incorporating the elliptical machine into our training.”

During the entire process, Gibson stayed in close contact with her physician, who has confirmed that she’s no longer at risk for diabetes and high blood pressure.

None of her weight loss success would have been possible without the support that Gibson and her husband provided to each other. And both have been so pleased with their progress, they have set new goals.

“I’d still like to lose about 25 more pounds, and I’d like to run the Peachtree [Road Race] this July,” Gibson said.   

Read on to learn more about Gibson and her time at Tech.

How did you get to your current position?
I earned my undergraduate degree at The Ohio State University and my master’s at Bowling Green State University. When it was time to get a job, I decided to come south because I prefer the warm weather. I started at Tech in 2005 as a hall director for the Freshman Experience, a housing program that aims to help students build a solid personal and academic foundation during their first year, and moved into my current position in 2007.

What are a few things you want people to know about your job?         
We don’t plan parties and games — we plan programming on everything from time management to the co-op programs so that students can succeed personally and academically during their time at Tech. Also, I don’t work a 9-to-5 job. There’s always the occasional crisis in the middle of the night.  

What piece of technology could you not live without professionally and personally?   
My iPhone.

Which do you prefer: Facebook, Twitter or a world without all of this social media stuff?  I love Facebook! It’s so neat to see everyone’s pictures and status updates.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
My grandmother told me that “Experience is a dear teacher, but a fool knows no other.” This means that you can experience things on your own, but there are others out there who’ve already been through what you’re going through. Look to them for wisdom.

If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be?
I would want to meet W.E.B. DuBois. I was a sociology major in college because I became fascinated with him at an early age.

Where is your favorite place to have lunch, and what do you order?
The Vortex — I love the black bean burger with cheddar cheese and the sweet potato fries.

What is something that we didn’t cover that you’d like people to know about you?
I went to boarding school for high school, and I really enjoyed that experience.

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  • Workflow Status:Published
  • Created By:Amelia Pavlik
  • Created:01/09/2012
  • Modified By:Fletcher Moore
  • Modified:10/07/2016