Jane Walters, 51, of McDonough sheds 38 pounds

• Former weight: 178 pounds

• Current weight: 140 pounds

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Jane Walters at 178 pounds

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Family

She now weighs 140 pounds.

• Pounds lost: 38

• Height: 5 feet 4 inches

• How long she’s kept it off: Walters started in January of 2007 and met her goal in November 2007.

• Personal life: “I have been married for 32 years to Bucky and we have one child, Karen.” Walters works for Luxottica Group. She lives in McDonough.

• Turning point: “My husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary in January 2007 in North Georgia. During our weekend away, we did some hiking,” she says. “About halfway on the trail, I realized I was very out of breath and had to stop and take a break. I decided that I did not want to live that way ever again.”

• Diet plan: “I decided to attend Weight Watchers because their program seemed to make the most sense. I could eat the foods I liked because I really enjoy cooking,” she says. Her day begins with yogurt mixed with high-fiber cereal. Lunch is a sandwich and sliced vegetables. Dinner is lean protein with vegetables.

• Exercise routine: “This is the biggest change in my life,” she says. “I work out at the gym 3 days a week doing weight training and I run 3 days a week. Because of the weight loss, my energy level has gone up and I feel as though I can accomplish anything.”

• Biggest challenge: “During the weight loss part of the journey I had to keep focused and not let family and friends derail my goal,” she says.

• How life has changed: “Two years ago, I saw things through the eyes of an aging female with all that goes with it: menopause, aching joints, back pain; now I see that those things should not define who you are. With the weight loss, the aching joints and back pain are gone and the menopausal symptoms are manageable. Two years ago I could barely walk around the block; now I have run 2 half marathons and I plan to train for my first full marathon next year — who says getting older is hard, I say getting older is getting better.”

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