Jan Spaid Godwin, 60, of Douglas lost 87 pounds

Height: 5 feet 5 inches

Age: 60 years

How long she's kept it off: "My weight-loss journey officially began in May of 2016, and I reached my goal weight of 175 on Oct. 31, 2017. Since that time, I have maintained," Godwin said. "I did have an early version of weight-loss surgery in 1988; however, it ceased to aid in weight loss 18 months after the surgery."

Personal life: "I am a retired elementary teacher and currently work part time as a real estate agent in South Georgia. I have been married for 4 1/2 years and have one son and three grandchildren. My husband has six children and 12 grandchildren, but we call them all ours." She lives in Douglas.

Turning point: "My husband returned from a doctor visit one day and his doctor had advised him to lose some weight. He asked if I'd help him do that. Of course, I would, it would help me, too," Godwin said. "I had already been reading some and thinking about trying a low-carb/high-fat diet, so I suggested to him that we give it a try. He was willing to try anything. We started right away with TOPS Club Inc. and started seeing immediate results. That was all the encouragement we needed. … What made it work was that we stuck to it."

Diet plan: Breakfast is eggs with bacon or sausage and cheese. Lunch is a salad, and dinner is grilled, broiled or non-batter-fried meat with vegetables.

Exercise routine: "We are moderately active people but did not really add any specific exercise to our routine," Godwin said.

Biggest challenge: "It was and still is a challenge to be in social settings or at holiday functions. These are always laden with high-carb goodies," she said. "Because we are in maintenance, we do allow ourselves to splurge at special times, but then we always buckle back down to counter any damages."

How life has changed: "I was named the Georgia TOPS Queen in May 2018, based on my total weight loss from beginning to goal. I was able to represent Georgia at the International TOPS Convention in Montreal, Canada, in July of 2018," Godwin said. "… By the time I reached my goal, I was able to discontinue my blood pressure medicine. I love shopping for clothes. I feel more confident knowing that I look better. But most of all, I can be more active without being short of breath." Her advice for others includes having support. "My support came from TOPS and from my husband," she said. "Find a plan that you can live with. All diets are not created equal and are not meant for everyone. The plan that works for you will be one that you can stick to day after day — for a lifetime."

Share Your Success: Each week, Success Stories focuses on an individual’s unique weight loss journey. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution does not endorse any specific weight loss program but includes names and links for the benefit of readers who want further information. Have you lost weight successfully with a healthy lifestyle change? If you would like to share your story with our readers, please include your email address, phone number, and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG), and contact us at: Success Stories, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or email Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.