• Former weight: 151 pounds

•Current weight: 118 pounds

(ENLARGE)

Before

(ENLARGE)

After

Mike Whitfield drops 105 pounds, becomes personal trainer  Jan Houston drops 90 pounds  Sheryle Leonard loses 78 pounds  Scott Morrow loses 139 pounds  Eric A. von Hacke drops 165 pounds  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 story with us. Briefly tell us your goal (weight loss, an athletic achievement, overcoming a health problem, etc.), how you achieved it and how long you've maintained it. Include a daytime phone number and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG). Write: Success Stories, c/o Susan Puckett, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eighth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303; or e-mail successstories@ajc.com. More success stories Mike Whitfield drops 105 pounds, becomes personal trainer  Jan Houston drops 90 pounds  Sheryle Leonard loses 78 pounds  Scott Morrow loses 139 pounds  Eric A. von Hacke drops 165 pounds  Dr. Kalvin C. Chinyere sheds 135 pounds  Lauren Waits loses 16 pounds  Alex Raul Rivera sheds 65 pounds  Hananiah Harrison drops 80 pounds  Bill and Shirley Heinsch shed a total of 193 pounds

• Pounds lost: 33 pounds

• Height: 5 feet 3 inches

• How long she's kept it off: 7 years

• Personal life: Harb works as a Weight Watchers leader. She lives in east Cobb County with her husband, Scott, and their two boys, Jacob and Ethan.

• Turning point: "After I had my first child, I started realizing I was not going to be getting back into my clothes," Harb says. "I was disillusioned when I was pregnant — I thought after the baby was born, [the weight] would just come off." Once she found out it was OK to do Weight Watchers while still breastfeeding her infant son, she joined.

• Diet plan: Harb followed Weight Watchers' points plan and because she was nursing, was required to eat more points than the usual amount for her goal, but still she lost weight. These days, breakfast is typically a mini whole-wheat bagel with either an egg or peanut butter. Lunch is turkey-breast-with-lettuce roll-ups or salad with soup or a low-calorie

frozen dinner.

"I cook dinner almost every night," she says. "This allows me to be in control of the preparation and the portions." Dinner is typically grilled salmon, pork chops or chicken with vegetables and brown rice or whole-wheat pasta. "I try to stay away from bread," she says.

• Exercise routine: Harb either walks in her neighborhood or uses her treadmill three days a week.

• Biggest challenge: With a new baby and budget, at first Harb was concerned about the price. But she decided to make the investment in herself, and she's glad she did. "You can't put a price on a healthy lifestyle," she says.

• Munchie antidote: "I love turkey pepperoni," she says. "[Add] some low-fat Laughing Cow cheese, put it together like a sandwich, and it's like pizza without the calories," she says. She also likes to steam soybeans in the microwave with a touch of salt for a savory snack. "I'm past the popcorn — I'm looking for more flavor now."

• Secret to success: "I attended my meetings faithfully — that was the key to my success," she says. "I loved meeting other members who faced the same challenges as me." And this once phobic public speaker now leads meetings as a Weight Watchers leader. "I keep my meetings very upbeat — if my members are laughing, they are listening," she says. "Selfishly, it helps me — definitely being there each week is the secret to my success."

• How life has changed: "My life changed from wanting and needing motivation to being a motivator," she says. "I have the distinct privilege to help others meet their weight-loss goal. What an honor for me. I get to watch others transform. I get to see others change." She says ultimately her life has flipped upside down: She went from being in the front row to being in the front of the room, motivating others.

• Cooking and dining tips: "I make the plates in the kitchen, then I bring them to the table. I don't put the food on the table, because you're likely to eat more," she says. "I've tested my husband, and I've tested myself. It's amazing what that does. You'll eat more if the roast is on the table." She also eliminates bread. "I leave it out. I do eat high-fat stuff, I just don't eat much of it. I like taste and quality; I just prefer to have less of it."

— Michelle C. Brooks,

for the Journal-Constitution

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 story with us. Briefly tell us your goal (weight loss, an athletic achievement, overcoming a health problem, etc.), how you achieved it, and how long you've maintained it. Include a daytime phone number and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG). Write to Success Stories, c/o Susan Puckett, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eighth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303. Or e-mail successstories@ajc.com.