Charlotte DeBose, 37, of Suwanee, drops 60 pounds

• Former weight: 200 pounds

• Current weight: 140 pounds

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Charlotte DeBose before picture. Weight in photo: 205 pounds; age in photo: 34 years; when photo was taken: December 2005.

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Charlotte DeBose after picture. Weight in photo: 140 pounds; age in photo: 36 years; when photo was taken: August 2008.

• Pounds lost: 60

• Height: 5 feet 2 inches

• How long she’s kept it off: “Almost 2 1/2 years. I started in July 2006,” says DeBose.

• Personal life: “I work for a distributor of non-drug allergy and asthma products in Duluth, Ga.,” she says. “I live in Suwanee, Ga., with my husband and son, Alvin DeBose Sr. and Alvin (A.J.) DeBose Jr.”

• Turning point: “About 11 years ago I lost my mom to a stroke, brought on by high blood pressure, which runs in my family,” says DeBose. “I also had a high blood pressure scare, which made me decide to lose the weight. I began working with the Weight Watchers program at first. That lasted for several months, but I didn’t start exercising until a couple of months later.”

• Diet plan: “My breakfast consists of one egg with two slices of turkey bacon and one whole-wheat waffle with fruit, followed by a snack of bananas, cereal bar or almonds,” she says. “Lunch is salad with chicken cutlets and light salad dressing, a turkey sandwich on wheat bread or a tuna sandwich; dinner is baked chicken with vegetables.”

• Exercise routine: “I work out seven days a week for an hour at Lifetime Fitness,” she says. “My exercise consists of step aerobics, strength-training, kickbox cardio and cycling.”

• Biggest challenge: “My biggest challenge was getting started, because I was not active at the time and it was hard to break my old habits,” she says. “I had little energy and less confidence. That’s when I made the decision to join Weight Watchers.”

• How life has changed: “I have so much energy and confidence now. A goal of mine is to compete in a 10K and a triathlon,” she says. “Today I’m healthier, my attitude is great and life is good.”

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