• Former weight: 285 pounds

• Current weight: 180 pounds

Family photo (ENLARGE)

Before: This photo was taken October 2002.

Family photo (ENLARGE)

After: This photo was taken March 2008.

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: 105

• Height: 6 feet 2 inches

• How long he's kept it off: "I have kept the weight off for five years now," says Whitfield. He met his goal in June 2007.

• Personal life: Whitfield is a personal trainer at Freedom Fitness in Acworth. His Web site is www.reflectionsfitness.com. He lives in Acworth with his wife, Sabrina, and their three furry children: a dog and two cats.

• Turning point: "I was playing my PlayStation and I dropped my controller. When I went down to pick it up, I didn't see my feet and found out what a desk job and junk food can do to a belly," Whitfield says. "The five slices of pizza and ice cream every night didn't help either. I was fed up. I jumped on a fitness kick and never looked back."

• Diet plan: "Breakfast is either oatmeal or high-fiber cereal with low-fat milk and protein powder. For midmorning, I usually have a handful of almonds," he says. "Lunch is chicken breast on a bed of greens with some low-fat dressing. Afternoon snack is a protein bar. Dinner is a chicken breast or baked fish with some green beans and brown rice. My dessert is typically a cinnamon rice cake with fat-free Cool Whip or a small apple."

• Exercise routine: Whitfield does strength training three to five days a week and cardio four to six days a week.

• Biggest challenge: "The carbs during football season," he says. "When I'm watching football, I could put away a bag of chips by the second quarter. I fixed that problem by getting some wasabi peas. Those things are hot, so you are forced to pace yourself, and they fill you up because they contain fiber and protein."

• How life has changed: "I'm really happy right now," he says. "When someone sees my old pictures and says, 'That's not you,' I totally agree. That was someone else and I am a new person now. I changed my eating habits and exercised. It's amazing how pumped up people get when they find out it really is that simple."

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, Sixth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303. Or e-mail successstories@ajc.com.