As a self-proclaimed emotional eater, Liana Selinsky knew she had to make a major lifestyle change when she hit 280 pounds and her doctor diagnosed her with sleep apnea, a disorder characterized by infrequent breathing during sleep.

So the 51-year-old decided to take charge of her health by following a low-carb diet and exercising at home with workout DVDs. She has since shed an amazing 105 pounds over three-and-a-half years!

“I feel great!” Liana exclusively told Closer Weekly of her weight loss journey. “To be able to hike and walk and just live my life to the fullest is a godsend.”

Read on to find out how Liana successfully lost more than 100 pounds!

liana weight loss before
Liana Selinsky

Liana before her 105-pound weight loss.

  • What was your life like before the weight loss?

I spent most of my time in front of the TV watching show after show. I didn’t sleep well, I hated to shop for clothes and was always scared to fly because of the possibility I might not fit into the seat. When I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, my doctor told me if I lost a little weight, it could greatly help my quality of sleep. That day, I walked out of the doctor’s office determined to lose weight and never looked back.

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  • How did you get started with your weight loss journey?

I had briefly tried the Atkins diet before and knew it worked for me, so I started researching the program again and signed up. First, I cut out junk food — donuts, Diet Coke, etc. — from my diet and started eating more protein and vegetables. I also started drinking close to half my body weight in ounces of water and tried to consume only 20 grams of carbs and 17 grams of sugar per day. The first year of my weight loss journey I exercised a lot, especially by following workout DVDs at home. I additionally started walking and later gained enough stamina to begin running. This year, I ran my first half marathon!

liana weight loss after
Liana Selinsky

Liana after her weight loss at 175 pounds.

  • What were the most difficult aspects of losing the weight?

I’m an emotional eater and dealing with that remains a daily challenge. Lately, making time to exercise and eating right has been hard due to work pressures. And let’s be honest, I love carbs. For me they still taste amazing and once I eat them again it’s very hard to stop and get back on track with my diet plan. This will be a battle I fight forever.

  • How does it feel now that you’ve lost the weight?

It feels great! To say I’m a runner now is something I NEVER thought I would ever say, let alone do every week! It’s amazing. To be able to hike and walk and just live my life to the fullest is a godsend. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not perfect at following my diet, but I know this way of eating is the only way I’m going to keep this weight off for the rest of my life.