• Former weight: 228 pounds

• Current weight: 172 pounds

Family photo (ENLARGE)

BEFORE: Donald Gilner, 70, weighed 228 pounds.

Family photo (ENLARGE)

AFTER: Gilner lost 56 pounds.

PHOTOS: See other before and after pictures sent by users like you! ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | new TEN | Inspirations | Inspirations II | Readers photos Upload your own photos! Topic: Atlanta's weight loss resource Be an inspiration: Be an inspiration: If you've made positive changes in your diet and/or fitness routine and are happy with the results, please share your success with us. Include your email address, a daytime phone number and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG). Write: Success Stories, c/o Suzanne Van Atten, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sixth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303; or e-mail ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com. More success stories Jennifer Powell, 31, of Douglasville, drops 122 pounds  Sonya Moste, 41, of Fayetteville lost 60 pounds  Kristy Wegert, 36, of Roswell loses 99 pounds  Dick Jones, 53, of Alpharetta loses 72 pounds  Derrick Williams, 37, of Dunwoody sheds 75 pounds  Sherrie Cline, 44, of Cartersville loses 72 pounds  Hannah Conheady, 19, of Lawrenceville sheds 102 pounds  Sara Corcoran, 39, of Johns Creek sheds 114 pounds  Jennifer Sabatier, 34, of Atlanta loses 80 pounds  Mickey Ruffalo, 57, of Woodstock loses 65 pounds  Back to Health

• Pounds lost: 56 pounds

• Height: 5 feet 10 inches

• How long he's kept it off: He began losing weight in May 2002. "Hoping to lose another 10 pounds or until my waist measures 35 inches."

• Personal life: Gilner, a doctor, retired from private practice in 2001. He also retired as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1997. He and his wife of 38 years, Celia, a registered nurse, volunteer together part time at Fort McPherson Army Hospital operating an allergy/asthma clinic. They have two married sons and grandchildren. Gilner is a member of Ahavath Achim Synagogue. He is an Atlanta native and has lived in Sandy Springs since 1975.

• Turning point: Gilner had several medical problems, including an artificial heart valve and rheumatoid arthritis, and he knew the added weight was only increasing the likelihood of more medical issues. "I basically made up my mind that I was going to change and I knew that it would require a total change in my lifestyle," he says.

• Diet plan: "I always thought that to successfully lose weight, one should practice what one is going to do for the rest of their life, and eat as though I had already lost the weight and was maintaining that weight loss." For breakfast, he usually has an omelet made with egg substitute. Lunch is a large salad with low-calorie dressing or a sandwich on reduced-calorie bread. Dinner includes 5 ounces of meat or fish.

• Exercise routine: "Since 2002, I have worked out at the YMCA one of every three to four days," he says. His goal is to work out at the gym 10 days a month and work out at home 10 days a month. On gym days, he runs a mile, followed by 22 to 25 repetitions on the machines. He also does free weights and back and stretching exercises. And at home he uses a stationary bicycle and Stairmaster.

• Biggest challenge: "I have pain or discomfort from bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica and a few other conditions, but I never let this stand in the way of exercising," he says. "If necessary, I temporarily adapt my exercise to meet the challenge of any physical discomfort that I might have."

• Munchie antidote: Mixed nuts, fruit, sauerkraut or pickles.

• Secret to success: "Consistency, despite many temptations to eat what I'm not supposed to or not to exercise," he says. "My wife, Celia, has been a great support by helping with my diet and flattering me on my appearance."

• How life has changed: Gilner's energy level has improved and it takes a lot more to make him short of breath these days. "My internist, monitoring my cardiac lab studies, has shown me the improvement in my tests," he says. "I am far healthier now than I would have been had I not lost weight or had not started a regular exercise program."