• Former weight: 267 pounds

• Current weight: 210 pounds

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Jim Owens, 50, of Atlanta weighed 267 in this picture taken in September 2007

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Owens now weighed 212 pounds on March 29.

• Pounds lost: 57

• Height: 6 feet

• How long he’s kept it off: He started his weight loss journey in April 2008 and is still working toward his goal of 190-195 pounds.

• Personal life: “I have worked in financial services for 23 years and have lived in the metro Atlanta area for 12 years,” he says. “I am engaged to Vivian Lawson (Success Story April 15, 2009). My daughter Jennifer, son-in-law Kevin, and grandson Caleb live close by.”

• Turning point: “I felt unhealthy and out-of-shape. I was feeling tired; I had frequent heartburn,” he says. “I met Vivian, we found each other later in life and we wanted to spend as much time with each other as possible and to hopefully extend the amount of time and quality of our lives together. We decided to join Weight Watchers. I had no idea how much [to eat] and what kinds of foods were good and how to balance out different types of food.”

• Diet plan: “Typically, I have a light breakfast of hot cereal and a protein shake,” he says. “I take my lunch to work, usually a sandwich, fruit, granola bar, yogurt, soup, and sometimes leftovers from the night before. My dinner varies. I usually just eat what I want but in the right portions. I like to snack at night, and usually have fat-free pudding or ice cream and finish the night with a bowl of cold cereal.”

• Exercise routine: “I walk the dogs with Vivian every day, for 2 to 3 miles,” he says.

• Biggest challenge: “Not giving into temptation of brought-in food at work like donuts, cookies, brownies and other sweets,” he says.

• How life has changed: “I have never felt better,” he says. “I am down to a weight that I was at 20 years ago. I have a new sense of confidence and [this experience] reinforced that a goal is best tackled in small goals: one meal at a time, one day at a time. Thinking about 210 pounds [while weighing] 256 pounds seemed impossible and was too big to think about.”

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Be an inspiration: Be an inspiration: If you've made positive changes in your diet and/or fitness routine and are happy with the results, please share your success with us. Include your email address, a daytime phone number and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG). Write: Success Stories, c/o Suzanne Van Atten, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sixth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303; or e-mail ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.

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