Donald Jones, 58, of Stone Mountain, lost 45 pounds

Current weight: 195 pounds

Pounds lost: 45

Height: 6 feet 3 inches

Age: 58

How long he's kept it off: My wife and I "both seriously committed to weight loss in March 2013," says Jones. "We reached our goal in September and have maintained and, in fact, lost more weight since attaining our goal weight."

Personal life: He's a sales and marketing executive and consultant. He and his wife, Andrea – look for her Success Story in next week's column – are married with adult children; they live in Stone Mountain.

Turning point: "For both of us, the turning point occurred when we committed to change," he says. "There is a joke between us that you don't see any really old fat folks — there's a reason for that … Both Andrea and I have always exercised; however, though we knew better, we never really got serious about eating habits," he says. When a visit to the doctor convinced his wife it was time to make a change, she joined Weight Watchers and although he didn't officially, "I benefited from the smarter food choices that were present in our kitchen," he says. "We realized that we no longer wanted to eat until full, but instead, just eat until satisfied. Sometimes, one can feel satisfied after only a few bites. Accordingly, we both eat a lot less. We maintain a 95 percent plant-based diet," he says.

Diet plan: "I was never a big sweet eater, so that was not really a problem. I cut out most breads and meats," he says. A typical day starts with oatmeal with raisins and apples. Lunch is salad or seafood. Dinner is raw vegetables, soup and legumes. He snacks on pretzels and nuts.

Exercise routine: "I climb Stone Mountain twice a day, in the morning and in the evening during good-weather months," he says. "I walk about seven miles a day when I can't get to the mountain. My daily goal is to burn at least 1,000 calories per day."

Biggest challenge: "Once I cut out most all meats, which was primarily chicken, then my weight seemed to come off at a moderate, but steady rate," he says. To handle the challenge of the munchies, "I have grown to love raw carrots and celery with fresh peanut butter."

How life has changed: I "feel better mentally and physically," he says. "Our journey has been great, and once under way, it wasn't really that hard at all — it's all about the commitment … commitment to exercise, education regarding food choices and portion control. You would be surprised at the time you have in a day to get some exercise in. It doesn't cost a thing to go outside and walk for 20 minutes instead of sitting around eating. In 20 minutes, you've walked a mile."