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Mel likes to eat -- a lot. She also likes her new body, 47 pounds lighter and a lot more toned than it once was.

Name: Melissa "Mel" Joulwan

Age: 41

Height: 5'4"

Before weight: 192

How I gained it: My family owned a diner when I was growing up, so food is really a big thing with us. I like to eat! And I can eat a lot, especially bread, pasta and rice. I exercised fairly regularly, but not enough to overcome my indulgent eating habits. I also had a consistency problem: I'd go like gangbusters for a while, then "fall off the wagon."

Breaking point: A friend took a photo of me at a picnic. I looked puffy and uncomfortable and very unhappy. That was it for me. I couldn't bear the thought of spending the rest of my life hating my body and wishing to be different. I used the year leading up to my 40th birthday to change my habits and transform myself.

How I lost it: I did everything I could think of that made sense to me, and I was relentless about it -- and I still am. The work doesn't end when you get to goal weight. I do Weight Watchers and the Zone together, keep a food/exercise log every day, and I do CrossFit workouts and run five to six times per week. I also write a blog that holds me accountable to my readers, so there's no cheating!

After weight: 145

Mel has maintained her weight loss since November 2008.