• Former weight: 248 pounds

• Current weight: 168 pounds

Family photo (ENLARGE)

BEFORE: Joyce Paris, 54, weighed 248 pounds.

Katie Torres/6 of Four Creations (ENLARGE)

AFTER: Paris weighs 168 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: 80

• Height: 5 feet 5 inches

• How long she's kept it off: Five years

• Personal life: Works as a kindergarten paraprofessional. Paris has a son and daughter-in-law and lives in Dallas.

• Turning point: "I never felt good before I went on my diet," Paris says. "I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything, so I finally decided to do something about it." She started with Medifast (www.medifast1.com) and got down to 178 pounds. Then she joined a gym, started exercising and began the Fresh 'N Fit cuisine program (www.freshnfitcuisine.com).

• Diet plan: "My health is wonderful," she says. "When I go for a full check with my doctors, they are amazed at all my results and tell me whatever I am doing to keep it up." Meals rotate every five weeks, so on a daily basis the menus vary.

• Exercise routine: She walks on the treadmill twice a week, does weights twice a week and does a bicycle workout for about an hour once a week.

• Biggest challenge: "I will, from time to time, go off the program and I will gain about 12 pounds. Then I get right back on Fresh 'N Fit," she says.

• How life has changed: "I love going places, and I feel great," she says. "I love to shop now. I never stay home. I stay on the go. I used to just stay home and didn't want to go anywhere. I have never been able to keep it off for this long."