What's the best way to lose weight? Adopting a strict diet, exercising longer and more regularly, going under the knife? Although there are a number of ways to lose unnecessary fats and flabs in the body, the best approach to weight loss often depends on a particular person.

For a 54-year old woman who has been battling with weight problems, ditching her diet regimens apparently worked. Teena Henson has adopted a wide array of diets in the past ranging from those that restrict her to eat only carbs to those that only allowed her to eat nothing but grapefruits. Unfortunately, the diets did not last long and Henson realized diets may not be for her.

At 5-foot-4 and weighing 332 pounds in March 2011, Henson didn't have any serious health conditions but she knew of the risks and the potential consequences of her poor diet and sedentary lifestyle as both her parents and three brothers all suffer from diabetes.

Henson's desire for a lifestyle change happened after she learned that a 24-hour gym will be operating in her area soon. She signed while the gym was still under construction and eventually went to it where she spends 30 minutes to one hour everyday after work.

Henson had a hard time changing her eating habits but she nonetheless stopped drinking soft drinks and lost 18 pounds in the first month. Although she still ate at fast food restaurants, she also started to make healthier food choices. Instead of ordering fried chicken, she opted for grilled chicken and chose side salads instead of fries.

Two months before her mother died in August 2012, Henson already lost 100 pounds and now remembers her mother telling her she was pretty. She said that whenever she needs motivation to work out and to say no to sweets, all she had to do was think of her mother and how much she wanted her to be happy.

Henson also started to eat healthier food products such as whole wheat bread, fresh vegetables and quinoa. She now even cooks in bulk and stacks the foods in containers so she knows how much calorie she eats.

In less than three years since she embarked on her weight-loss journey, Henson lost 166 pounds, which is half of her body weight.

"The smallest of changes one can make in their present lifestyle can garner big changes not only in the physical body, but in the mind," Henson said.