Photo SpecialThey lost half their size!
See the amazing transformations of five people who lost weight – and gained their lives back
More from PEOPLE
MARY SMITH
Age: 40
Starting Weight: 253 lbs.
How She Did It: The Atkins Diet
Why She Did It: A visit to her doctor scared her into losing
weight after she learned she was pre-diabetic and heading for heart
disease. ("My doctor said,) 'You're going to have to do
something, or you're going to die,'" she says. "I wanted to see my
kids grow up."
