SUCCESS STORY / Adrain Whyte, 32, of Jonesboro lost 48 pounds

Pounds lost: 48 pounds

Height: 5 feet 8 inches

How long she's kept it off: She started in April 2010, and by the end of the year she had lost 43 pounds.

Personal life: "I have lived in Georgia all my life," Adrain Whyte said. "I am married, my husband's name is David, and I have a son, Mason, age 4. I was in the U.S. Army Reserve for 8 1/2 years." She now works on the operations side of the banking industry. She and her family live in Jonesboro.

Turning point: "Weighing the same as [I was] when I was nine months pregnant," she said. "I had been driving by Casi's Straight Military Style Bootcamp for some time, always saying I am going to do the next camp. It wasn't what I was eating that was the problem -- it was when I was eating and how much. I had to put myself in check and fast. I did 8 1/2 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, so I knew Casi's Straight Military Style Bootcamp was what I needed."

Diet plan: She's a vegetarian, so she eats lots of green vegetables, fish and her favorite, crab legs, but no fried foods, beef, pork or chicken. "Most of the time when you think that you're hungry, it's just your body telling you it needs water," she said. "Keep it simple -- you don't need big meals to fill you up."

Exercise routine: She exercises two to five times a week doing step aerobics, running and kickboxing.

Biggest challenge: "Not eating after 6 p.m." she said.

How life has changed: "My weight loss has motivated me to keep in shape. I love to shop now because now I can pick up a size six and wear a small in shirts," she said. "I have my confidence back and energy. I love the new me, and my family does, too. ... Fitness is a lifestyle change. You can still enjoy the things you like to eat, but you have to learn control. To this day, I hear people saying how proud they are of me and that I don't need to lose any more weight. But they have to understand that I am doing this to be healthy, and if it entails losing more -- I will."

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.