Annette Ogletree-McDougal, 52, of Athens, Ga. lost 70 pounds

Pounds lost: 70 pounds

Height: 5 feet 2 inches

Age: 52 years

How long she's kept it off: "I started my quest for great health June 2011," says Ogletree-McDougal. "I reached my weight loss goal May 2012 and Weight Watchers' lifetime status in June 2012."

Personal life: "I'm a strategic communications manager and I'm a board member and mentor with the Clarke County Mentor Program in Athens." She is married and lives in Athens.

Turning point: "I decided that as I got older, I wanted to make sure I remained healthy. I wasn't trying to get into a certain size or lose weight for a special event," she says. "My parents were diabetic and so are my four sisters, but I'm not...My sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Troy Simmons, were featured in the AJC weightloss Success Stories and other friends were getting healthy. I thought if I can't keep up my level of exercise, I should pay attention to what I eat."

Diet plan: "I joined Weight Watchers and I'm able to eat whatever I want following their plan," she says. "I always ate healthy, just too much. Portion control combined with exercise is the key...prior to going out to dinner, I look at the menu options and nutritional information so I can make a smart choice. I often eat half the meal and bring the other half home. When dining at home, I measure and weigh my food paying careful attention to the portion sizes."

Exercise routine: "I work out at 5:30 a.m. six to seven days a week combining cardio and weight-lifting. I incorporate boot camp, spinning, kettle bells, fight club, and jumping rope — I'll try pretty much anything the gym offers."

Biggest challenge: "Letting go of my extensive clothing collection was tough, and it was also hard for me to see myself differently as I was losing weight," she says.

How life has changed: "I was happy before I lost weight and now I'm happy and healthier," she says. "I'm also even closer to my sister Sharon; we check in each week on our progress and she encouraged me along the way." On July 4, she ran her first Peachtree Road Race and surprised herself, "My time was one hour twenty minutes. I thought it would take me two or three hours. I also thought I would walk most of it but the walkers were too slow so I ran."

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 e-mail Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.