Joshay Lang of Sandy Springs lost 61 pounds

Height: 5 feet 4 inches

Age: 26

How long she's kept it off: "I started my weight-loss journey in September 2009. I used to say I was going to get serious about losing weight, but it was not until then that I did get serious about the weight loss," Lang said. "Ideally, I would like to lose about 35 more pounds -- I hope to achieve this by July of this year."

Personal life: "I am a high school teacher at Maynard H. Jackson High School in Atlanta. I teach chemistry and biology," she said. She lives in Sandy Springs.

Turning point: "My grandmother became very ill, and my mother had to have surgery -- within two years of each other," she said. "It was then that I decided that I wanted to take control of my health."

Diet plan: She follows her own plan for between 1,400 and 1,600 calories per day. Breakfast is oatmeal and banana with Greek yogurt for a snack. Lunch is tuna, grapes, hummus and carrots. There's an afternoon protein shake, and dinner is whole-wheat pasta with tomato sauce and vegetables.

Exercise routine: "I am a workout fanatic," she said. "I love all types of exercise. I have completed P90X ... I loved Zumba so much that I became certified -- I now teach five classes a week." She works out about eight to 10 hours per week and rests on Sundays.

Biggest challenge: "My biggest challenge in the beginning was staying motivated alone," she says. "You are the only thing that is standing in the way of your own success."

How life has changed: "I hated to work out. Now I can't live without it," she said. "I'm at a great place right now in my life and looking forward to the future. When I was in college, I would call my mom and cry and complain about how unhappy I was with my weight. My mom used to say to me, 'Joshay, you are really determined when it comes to your grades in school. Apply that same determination to your weight loss and you can do it!' I think of that all the time now when I am losing my determination."

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 Holly Steel, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or email ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.