When you come close to losing someone, you begin to appreciate life like never before. In 2003, I heard news that my mother, who lives 3,000 miles away from me, had a severe stroke. There was nothing I could do but hope for a miracle.

What happened to my mother was a wake-up call for me. A part of me had slipped away; I was overweight and unhappy, and I knew I had to take back my health. I knew that I did not want to settle for a life that was anything less but extraordinary. The next morning, I decided to enter the Body-for-LIFE Challenge.

When I began the Challenge, I weighed 154 pounds. By the end, I had lost 27 pounds and dropped from a size 18 to a 6. My body fat now is 17 percent, and I have maintained my new weight. I feel stronger and have more energy than ever to keep up with my son, now 2.

I love the way I look, but nothing compares to the way I feel inside—empowered and alive.