• Former weight: 146 pounds

• Current weight: 119 pounds

Family (ENLARGE)

Marilu Barron, 38: From 146 pounds to 119 pounds. Before photo

Family (ENLARGE)

'My life changed because definitely I gained confidence,' she says now.

• Pounds lost: 27

• Height: 5 feet 2

• How long she's kept it off: Started August 2006 and reached her goal January 2007.

• Personal life: "I was born in Mexico and got married [to] an American and came to live in the United States," she says. "We have been living in Georgia for four years and I have been married for 13 years. We have two children and a dog." She is a full-time mother and leader for Weight Watchers. Barron and her family live in Peachtree City.

• Turning point: "My health was not an issue, but I wasn't happy with myself," says Barron. "I like running, and my knees couldn't stand the hills in Georgia with my weight and I really wanted to run again. I starved and deprived myself, only quitting and gaining everything back or more."

• Diet plan: "I finally decided to join Weight Watchers," she says. She has a muffin or bagel for breakfast, tuna salad sandwich with mayo for lunch and smaller portions for dinner, which may include lasagna or rice and enchiladas.

• Exercise routine: "I finally ran a marathon in January and have run two half-marathons in Atlanta — with hills," she says. "Now I love the hills in Georgia and feel very good." She runs three to five times a week.

• Biggest challenge: "It is hard to maintain the weight being around children and family who enjoy eating," she says. "But with Weight Watchers' meetings, I always find good advice to deal with it."

• How life has changed: "My life changed because definitely I gained confidence; I feel happy again, just happy," she says. "Weight Watchers asked me to join them [as a leader] so we could start meetings in Spanish. I loved the idea and I am surprised with all the material they have in Spanish for us Latin people."

eel happy again, just happy."

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