Debbie Alexander, 54, of Buford lost 78 pounds

Pounds lost: 78 pounds

Height: 5 feet, 3 inches

Age: 54 years

How long she's kept it off: "I began my journey on Jan. 17, 2019, and I'm not done yet. I'd like to lose 15 to 20 more pounds and keep getting stronger," Alexander said.

Personal life: "I have three adult children and I work for Buford City Schools in the infant room of the day care for employees' children." She also lives in Buford.

Turning Point: "I realized I had gotten to where I didn't want to do anything. I'd go to work, come home, get on the computer and just sit. At work I have to get up and down from the floor with the babies and it was getting harder because I had gained so much weight," Alexander said. "My children are grown, I only have myself to worry about now and it is time to focus on myself."

Diet Plan: "I used to drink Diet Coke all day long. I gave that up as well as fast food. I used the MyFitnessPal app at first to help me with nutrition. I try to get 150 grams of protein a day, I watch my carbs and fats and I don't eat a lot of sugar. I miss my salty snacks the most," she said. Alexander also purchases seven meals a week through Dinners by Derek, a healthy meal delivery service.

Exercise Routine: "I lost my first 20 pounds by walking on the treadmill, riding a stationary bike and doing lightweight exercises at Planet Fitness. It was the first time I'd worked out in a gym and I was so intimidated," she said. "I noticed that an ad for Burn Boot Camp-Buford kept popping up on Facebook. I scrolled passed it many times and finally clicked to read about the free 30-day trial. I set up a time for a focus meeting with Karley, one of the trainers, and I went to my first class. I was so nervous, worried what all the skinny, fit people would think of me. I had no confidence in myself at all. I set a goal to go to Burn five days that week. By the end of the week I was so sore, but I felt amazing. I knew I was accomplishing something and was where I needed to be. I fell in love with Burn." Alexander is a regular at Burn, attending two camps every weekday and one camp on Saturdays. She also does a lot of walking and running to achieve her daily goal of 20,000 steps.

Biggest Challenge: "The hardest part for me was getting started and making myself a top priority," she said.

How life changed: "I'm happier, more confident and much stronger. I can walk 10 to 15 miles a day, no problem, and I've done two 5Ks – I even ran most of the last one. It was hard for me to find a before photo because I used to be ashamed to have my picture taken. I'm not ashamed anymore," Alexander said. "I've reached many goals and my kids, my mom and friends are so proud of me. I've gone from a size 16 to a size 4, I can hold a 21-minute plank and my picture now hangs on the transformation wall at Burn Buford. The trainers at Burn – Karley, Lizz and Karen – they changed my life. I wouldn't be where I am without them. They've built me up, pushed me and believed in me. Now I believe in me, too."

Share Your Success: Each week, Success Stories focuses on an individual’s unique weight loss journey. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution does not endorse any specific weight loss program but includes names and links for the benefit of readers who want further information. Have you lost weight successfully with a healthy lifestyle change? If you would like to share your story with our readers, please include your email address, phone number, and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG), and contact us at: Success Stories, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or email Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.