Brittney Lunsford loses 82 pounds

Height: 5 feet 6 inches

How long she's kept it off: Started in June 2008, and she's still working toward her goal of 150 pounds.

Personal life: "I work for a garage door wholesaler in Norcross. [I'm] married to Chris, with a 7-year-old, Colin, two cats and a dog," Lunsford said.

Turning point: "My mother's passing over 2 1/2 years ago," she said. "She died in her sleep and we never saw it coming. She looked healthy on the outside, but [on] the inside, she wasn't. My brother and dad had always tried to get me back to my normal shape, but I would just ignore them. So my mom's passing was a big turning point for me both mentally and physically, and with the backing of my brother, Brandon, and dad, Buford, they helped guide me and support me. My dad has always said that once you're in shape, you eat healthy and exercise to stay that way. I truly believe he is 110 percent correct."

Diet plan: "This is the great thing: no diet plan, just watching what you eat," she said. A typical day is whole-wheat toast or a waffle for breakfast. For lunch, she loves Subway, and dinner is chicken with veggies.

Exercise routine: Three days a week she does fit camp with Revolution Fitness and Training in Lawrenceville (www.revtraining.com). She also runs two to three days about three miles each time.

Biggest challenge: "If I get bored or sad, I used to look for food," she said. "I have had to change that way of thinking and sometimes I feel I want to go right back to that old way, so I have to get out of that funk and eat grapes or just walk away from the pantry."

How life has changed: "Life is very different," she said. "I feel even more independent than ever. I can do whatever I want if I put my mind to it. I feel so much better about myself and how I look in clothes. I feel healthy and that's what I want to be. I'm more outgoing, more positive and a lot more fun."

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 e-mail 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, Sixth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303; or e-mail ajcsuccessstories @gmail.com.