Emily Smith, 45, of Roswell lost 28 pounds

Pounds lost: 28 pounds

Height: 5 feet 5 inches

Age: 45 years

How long she's kept it off: "In February 2019, I hired Jacynta Harb with Sparkle Wellness to be my health coach," said Smith, who reached her current weight in March.

Personal life: "I've been married for 21 years to my husband, Brandon. We have three teenagers: a daughter, 18, sons 15 and 13, and two dogs. I work part time as a residential real estate closing attorney and serve as the creative director and writer for my husband's podcast: "The Workplace Therapist Show." She lives in Roswell and blogs at thef5blog.com.

Turning point: "It seemed like every year my New Year's resolution was to lose weight. For years I felt like I was gaining and losing the same 10 pounds. I was constantly white-knuckling it to drop a few, then would gain them back. I would be good and eat well for a few weeks, then would go off the rails with sweets and processed foods … feeling like a good person when I followed whatever plan I was on and negative and depressed when I didn't. It was exhausting — I was tired of my unhealthy relationship with food," Smith said. "… What shocked me when I started with Sparkle was that there was no plan. … The focus was on educating myself about what healthy food looks like. Then it was up to me to figure out what foods I like and were going to serve me best."

Diet plan: She starts with two eggs with vegetables such as poached eggs atop sweet potatoes. Lunch and dinner are grilled meats or fish with vegetables.

Exercise routine: "I have been a serious runner since 2000, when I ran my first marathon, but I was never consistent with weight training. I was always content calling myself a slow runner," Smith said. "In September 2019, I joined Orange Theory Fitness Roswell. … Suddenly, I saw real changes in my metabolism as the added muscle helped me burn more calories." In February she ran a half-marathon, improving her time by 10 minutes.

Biggest challenge: "My biggest challenge has been not falling into the perfectionist trap, thinking that the results are all good or all bad," Smith said. "It has been a struggle to give myself grace when I felt like I failed or didn't meet a goal."

How life has changed: "I feel stronger mentally and physically," Smith said. "For the first time, I am truly able to see that optimal health is not a destination, a finish line to reach. … The work is constant. There is always something to improve — there is always a way to make your health a little bit better. While I celebrate my success, I know that I am not done with the journey."

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.