Vivian Lawson, 46, of Kennesaw loses 71 pounds

• Former weight: 236 pounds

• Current weight: 165 pounds

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Vivian Lawson, 46, weighed 236 pounds in October 2007.

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Family

Lawson weighed 165 pounds in March 2009.

• Pounds lost: 71

• Height: 5 feet 7 inches

• How long she’s kept it off: Lawson started losing weight in April 2008 and is working toward her goal of 160 pounds.

• Personal life: Lawson is a registered nurse and edits online nursing educational products. She has three grown daughters: Tiffany, Lisa and Erin, and two granddaughters, Kadence and Haley. “I am engaged to Jim Owens.”

• Turning point: “When I looked into the mirror and realized my body didn’t match the picture I had of myself in my mind,” she says.

• Diet plan: “I started out on my own but there was no structure and no motivation,” she says. “Jim, who also was trying to lose weight, and I talked about it, and decided to try Weight Watchers.” She starts the day with a light breakfast, lunch is a sandwich or leftovers. “I enjoy cooking and usually make a good meal for dinner. I always save room for fat-free ice cream or pudding at night.”

• Exercise routine: “I walk the dogs in the morning for about one to two miles and then again with Jim for another two to three miles every day.”

• Biggest challenge: “Believing in myself, I can be my own worst enemy,” she says.

• How life has changed: “My body matches the way I see myself in my mind — healthy,” she says. “Jim and I are a team, working collectively so that we can enjoy each other’s company for as long as possible. In our 40s, we found each other two years ago. Our concern was that our unhealthy lifestyles would shorten our time together. Now our lifestyle includes walking two to four miles a day, healthy foods, normal portion sizes, and mutual respect for the decision we made to take care of ourselves. We feel that the only way to achieve our long-term goal is to change our lifestyles and be a source of constant support for one another. Our motivation stems from a desire to be with each other for as long as possible.”

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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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