Carolyn G. Sanders, 49, of Tucker, Ga. lost 52 pounds

Current weight: 138 pounds

Pounds lost: 52 pounds

Height: 5 feet 3 inches

Age: 49 years

How long she's kept it off: "I started my journey in September 2007. I set many short-term goals and reached my final goal April 2013," said Sanders.

Personal life: "I live in DeKalb County's Smoke Rise community with my husband, Dennis, and our three children," she said. They have a son, Andrew, and two daughters, Claire and Victoria. "We have been married for nearly 23 years. I'm currently retired from the healthcare industry. I completed my B.S. in business from Georgia State University in 1996."

Turning point: "My sister died at the age of 38 of an inoperable tumor. After losing her, my [other] sister living here in Atlanta asked me to join her for a session with her personal trainer. This invitation jump-started my life of fitness and good health … I started by decreasing simple sugars and fats from my diet. After a month of eliminating desserts, cakes and pies, and working out three days a week, I saw eight pounds of weight loss, but most importantly, I felt better than I had in a long time and my clothes were beginning to fit less snug around the waist."

Diet plan: Breakfast is oatmeal, mixed berries and turkey sausage. Lunch is a green salad with cheese, a boiled egg, avocado and lemon salad dressing. Dinner is usually salmon, sweet potato and green vegetables. "My after dinner treat is often a piece of dark chocolate; this helps me from binging on chocolate or other decadent sweet treats."

Exercise routine: "I'm now a triathlete," she said. "My exercise routine consists of an hour of cardio in the form of a swim, a bike ride, spin class or a run six days per week." She meets with her personal trainer two days a week.

Biggest challenge: "The temptation to eat multiple servings of desserts or high fatty foods is challenging for me … I have to work daily to make sure I avoid these temptations. I do enjoy these during the holidays and special occasions, but in moderation."

How life has changed: "I now feel I have true balance in life. My spiritual, physical and emotional life have come together to make me a better Christian, mother, wife and overall person," she said. To stay motivated, she creates a yearly race calendar. "These goals take the monotony from exercising and changes it to training."