Torie Baumann, 52, of Roswell lost 40 pounds

Pounds lost: 40 pounds

Height: 5 feet 2 inches

Age: 52

How long she's kept it off: She started Aug. 15 and reached her current weight April 1. "It took me 7.5 months," Baumann said.

Personal life: "I have been married for 28 wonderful years and just celebrated a daughter graduating from college and another daughter graduating from high school all last month," Baumann said. "I have the blessing to be a stay-at-home mom and do volunteer work."

Turning point: "I was feeling miserable in general and felt much older than I should, I thought. I was tired all the time, hormones were off, arthritis was bothersome, (I had) difficulty sleeping, and my food cravings were just too strong," Baumann said. "I knew changes needed to be made, but (I) wanted to work on my whole body and not just lose the weight with no real change in my health in a foundational way that would help me long-term. I watched a friend go through the program and have not only a great experience with metabolic specialist Nancy Masoud (lockedinwellness.com) … but also complete success. I liked Nancy's approach of learning what my body needed with vitamins based on my deficiencies, and how she could help me overcome some of my health issues more holistically."

Diet plan: Breakfast is a veggie omelet. Snacks include gluten-free crackers and fruit. Lunch and dinner are chicken, fish or a bison burger with veggies. "I found out through … testing that gluten was not my friend," Baumann said.

Exercise routine: "I did exercise the first half of my weight-loss journey mainly by walking and hiking 3 to 5 miles several times a week," Baumann said. "As I got closer to my goal and would plateau, I stopped exercising, per Nancy's advice, and that did help me lose more."

Biggest challenge: "Some of my biggest challenges were learning to cook ahead and do a better job of meal prepping. I also got stuck at the same weight for a solid month, and that was frustrating," Baumann said. "… I have learned so much on how to help my body lose weight and feel better."

How life has changed: "I am much more aware of planning my meals and have really enjoyed eating this way," Baumann said. "I feel so much better and have an incredible amount of energy. I have learned to have food be my fuel and work better for my overall health. It is so much easier to live this way once you get through the learning curve. My sleep has improved, my arthritis is so much better and I just feel 10-plus years younger with a stronger, healthier and thinner body. I knew I didn't want to be just thinner, but also healthier long-term."

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.