Jeremy Brown, 40, of Cumming lost 36 pounds

Pounds lost: 36 pounds

Height: 6 feet

Age: 40 years

How long he's kept it off: He started six months ago and reached his current weight in October.

Personal life: "I have a wife, Alexandra. She works in the Forsyth County school district. I have a young toddler named Gareth," said Brown, who recently sold a business and will soon open a boot-camp gym in Canton. He lives with his family in Cumming.

Turning point: "I got into a pretty nasty wreck in 2012; I got injured pretty good in my neck. I was dealing with constant headaches and migraines. Then someone else ran into me in 2015. So basically, I (went) back to square one again — it aggravated everything. … I needed to lose the weight and get more active. I started eating clean on my own … and adding some activity into my day. … I pretty much stalled." He went to Nancy Masoud, a weight-loss and metabolism specialist (www.lockitinweightloss.com). "I had problems with inflammation. … I discovered I was allergic to black pepper and that was causing inflammation, making it hard for me to lose weight. It caught me off guard that (black pepper) kept me from losing weight. … It doesn't help that I have arthritis in my back from the injuries. I need to eat clean to keep the inflammation down. … There's no need for me to have gluten anymore, but black pepper is everywhere. If you're inflamed, you're not going to lose any weight — that is what happened to me."

Diet plan: Breakfast is eggs with spinach. Lunch and dinner are 5 ounces of protein with several green vegetables or a salad.

Exercise routine: "I'm going three times per week — as much as my neck allows me. I'm getting stronger, though there was a point that I couldn't lift anything over my head. I go to Fit Body Boot Camp in Alpharetta (www.fitbodybootcamp.com) three times a week in the morning for 20 to 25 minutes."

Biggest challenge: "Not pushing myself too hard so I don't get hurt. … Always trying to get a good workout and taking it one step at a time. So I've been slowly getting stronger and stronger. My cardio is getting better and better. I'm getting stronger throughout the workout and putting more intensity into the workout."

How life has changed: "I feel like I'll be able to keep up with my kid. … Most people prioritize their job or a TV show, and that is why they don't ever get to the gym and don't get things done. … You've got to make up your mind that you're going to do this and nothing gets in your way. There were plenty of goals I set, but there wasn't the thing there to make it a priority."

Share Your Success: Have you lost weight successfully with a healthy lifestyle change? We’d love to speak with you! If you would like to share your story with our readers, please include your email address, a daytime 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.