John Michael Dunn, 37, of Newnan lost 50 pounds

Pounds lost: 50 pounds

Height: 5 feet 10 inches

Age: 37 years

How long he's kept it off: He started in June 2017 and reached his current weight in December.

Personal life: "I have a wife and two kids, a boy and a girl, and I'm a lineman for Coweta-Fayette EMC," Dunn said. "We live in Newnan."

Turning point: "We had a health fair at work. They come and draw your blood and take your measurements. I had always been a little overweight and it never bothered me, but the results came back and my triglycerides were extremely high. Normal is like 150, which is considered high — mine were at 1,500. My physician said, 'You want another six years or 60 years? If you want 60 years, you've got to do something about this.' " Dunn said. "Fortunately, one of my good friends' younger sister is a personal trainer at OneLife Fitness. I reached out to her and she got me going — got me started on an exercise routine and a general diet plan. … Most of the weight came off the first 12 weeks … which got me down to 180-185."

Diet plan: He counted calories, 1,800 daily, and he switched from eating fast food and fried food to eating grilled meats, beans, lots of tuna and beef jerky. "I still try to maintain a high-protein, moderate-carbs, low-fat diet," Dunn said. "They call it eating clean, and it paid off."

Exercise routine: "I do high-intensity interval training," he said. "I do that four days per week, and then I work out with my trainer one day a week. I do weights with her. On Sundays, I go up there and do cardio and run a little bit to keep it mixed up. … It ends up being about four to five hours of exercise per week, five to six days a week. I don't usually do it on Saturdays. I need a rest and recovery day."

Biggest challenge: "With my job, we work very long hours. We are out on the road everywhere. I have to plan my food way ahead of time. If we end up working late, then I have to find something at a convenience store. I usually reach for a can of tuna," Dunn said. "Eating healthy is the hardest thing."

How life has changed: "I got my triglycerides down from 1,500 to 60-70. I keep feeling better. I've just kind of got more energy. I haven't been getting as sick. I've stopped snoring— I breathe better," Dunn said. "I want to see my kids grow up. That kind of gives you a shock — that this can kill you if you don't take control of it quickly, that is a pretty good motivator. The fear keeps you aware." When he has a day off his diet, maybe he has a couple of beers, he will think: 'I need to get back to it. (I'm) not going to make this a habit.'" he said. "That fear gets you back on track."

Share Your Success: 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, 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.