Charlie Tope, 68, of Marietta lost 38 pounds

Current weight: 204 pounds

Pounds lost: 38 pounds

Height: 6 feet 2 ½ inches

Age: 68 years

How long he's kept it off: He started March 2014 and reached 203 pounds in January.

Personal life: "I'm in commercial real estate — I work with Mimms Enterprises and I've been with them over 10 years," said Tope. "I'm married 47 years this April to my wife, Marty. We have two sons, a daughter and six grandchildren." He lives in Marietta.

Turning point: "For 20 years I had regularly exercised but continued slowly gaining weight, peaking at 242 pounds. Not until I started having warning signs health-wise — borderline cholesterol, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure and shortness of breath — did I realize I had to do something now." His wife suggested wellness coach, Jacynta Harb (www.sparkleanewyou.com). He met with her weekly and used the MyFitnessPal app. "It's a journey and change of lifestyle."

Diet plan: Breakfast is egg substitute, grits and turkey or venison sausage. "If I eat a good breakfast, I don't tend to snack," he said. For lunch he has thin bread slices with deli turkey and a peach tea. Dinner is lean protein and vegetables. "My wife has helped me a lot making low-calorie meals." He replaced his daily Baby Ruth candy bar with an apple. "That one tweak saved me 200 calories per day and 1000 calories per week — I use that as an example of a bad habit."

Exercise routine: "For 20 to 25 years, I had the half of the better exercise — I didn't have the half of the better eating." He has always exercised four times per week, doing a combination of cardio and weights.

Biggest challenge: "I tried some diets and they just didn't work for me. My biggest challenge was committing," he said. "I really believe you have to answer two questions when you get started: 'Why am I doing this?' and 'Am I committed to doing this?' I was just getting too many red flag warning signs … mine was really for health reasons."

How life has changed: "I'm now below my college football playing weight," he said. "I'm on track with a much better lifestyle. I want people to understand it's not a crash diet … it's been a lifestyle change … I know my body is a temple of Christ." At his last physical, his doctor said his life expectancy had already increased losing 15 pounds. "I'm already looking forward to my next physical."