Jan Flegle of Canton lost 130 pounds

Height: 5 feet 6 inches

Age: 63 years

How long she's kept it off: She started in May 2010 and met her goal weight in July 2011.

Personal life: "I live in Canton, Ga., with my husband of 42 years, Dr. Larry Flegle. We have one daughter who lives in Decatur," Flegle says. "I am an online college professor. I teach business, information technology and healthcare classes. I am also a registered nurse."

Turning point: "My blood sugar went up to 200 and my physician told me that I would be a diabetic on medication within three months if I did not make some lifestyle changes," she says. "I just really did not want to get that disease. It worked because I found the deep motivation that made me willing to stay with the program even if I did not lose a single pound because it was the right thing for me to do."

Diet plan: "I developed my own food plan which consisted of low carbohydrates and high protein," she says. "I have learned to add fiber to my recipes in order to decrease the net carbs. I have written a recipe book (www.litepath.net) with the recipes that I have used to lose weight."

Exercise routine: "When I began, I could only walk to the mailbox. But I persevered and before long I could make it to the stop sign in my neighborhood," she says. "Now I usually walk three to four miles each time."

Biggest challenge: "My biggest challenge was consistency with my walking. I would get busy and it was just so easy to say, 'I'll skip it today.' I found that I had to make my walk like an appointment. I scheduled it and put it on my calendar and marked the time as busy."

How life has changed: "My life has changed in wonderful ways. My blood sugar is normal and I did not develop diabetes," she says. "My husband is thrilled with my smaller body. The other day he called me his 'smokin' hot wife.' That was better than a bag of potato chips!" Flegle has gone from a size 26 to a size eight and her secret to success: "I found a deep motive that was more important to me than food."

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 Holly Steel, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or email ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.