Ada Waters, 77, of Woodstock lost 20 pounds

Ada Waters weighed 145 pounds when the photo on the left was taken in April 2014. In the photo on the right, taken in December, she weighed 125 pounds. (Photos contributed by Ada Waters).

Ada Waters weighed 145 pounds when the photo on the left was taken in April 2014. In the photo on the right, taken in December, she weighed 125 pounds. (Photos contributed by Ada Waters).

SUCCESS STORY / Ada Waters, 77: From 145 pounds to 125 pounds

Former weight: 145 pounds

Current weight: 125 pounds

Pounds lost: 20 pounds

Height: 5 feet 3 ½ inches

Age: 77 years

How long she's kept it off: She started in 2016 and reached her current weight in October.

Personal life: "I live in Woodstock," Waters said. "I live with my partner, Ray, of nine years and also a German shepherd, Nash — he's our buddy. I am retired from Sprint and I'm from Florida. I retired in 2003. … I have two daughters and my son."

Turning point: "I was getting concerned that my weight was getting out of hand," Waters said. "I have been on many diets and I'd lose, but I guess I couldn't really stick to it. … In July, I went to see Nancy Masoud, a metabolic specialist (www.lockitinweightloss.com). Actually, I had seen in the paper someone, a gentleman from Woodstock, that went to her. He went to her and lost a lot of weight. … I looked it up and called. I talked with her, and we set up a time and a date to meet in her office. I went in and got started."

Diet plan: "I usually have an egg in the morning, and sometimes I'll have oatmeal and some protein," Waters said. "For lunch, I'll have protein and a vegetable or a salad with protein. For dinner, I'll have protein, such as chicken or fish, and vegetables."

Exercise routine: "I do walking and I do weights at home about three times per week," she said. "I walk in my neighborhood."

Biggest challenge: "Eating foods with sugar — that's what causes my weight gain, and eating out — that caused a lot of it," Waters said. "I talked to Nancy about that. She told me to try baked apples with cinnamon and stevia. That really helps — that takes away the hunger for sweet stuff and you don't have the flour for the crust."

How life has changed: "I have more energy, and as far as life-changing, I can't say there's any changes because I'm active — I'd say it's more energy," Waters said. "In February, I am going to take classes … in Roswell for staging homes. I am excited. I love decorating. I love clothes and furniture. It's going to be a four-day class, so I am really looking forward to that. … Then I can get certified and help people with their decorating and rearranging furniture." She feels her secret to success was finding what worked for her, along with keeping focused: "Determination, because I know if I don't stay on track I will go right back to the way I was with the weight gain. I am just determined to stay on the diet plan and (keep) good eating habits." Her tips for others include stick-to-it-ness: "I would say staying on track. Once you get a good diet plan, you stay on track. That's an individual choice, but that is what it takes for me to stay on track."


Share Your Success: 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, a daytime 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.