Kseniya Skrabovskaya lost 28 pounds

Current weight: 147 pounds

Pounds lost: 28 pounds

Height: 5 feet, 7 inches

Age: 30 years

How long she's kept it off: She started in February 2015 and reached her goal this month.

Personal life: "I've always enjoyed helping people reach their true potential and take their lives to another level," Skrabovskaya said. "I founded Fierce Miles (fiercemiles.com), a local fitness and nutrition consulting firm, here in Atlanta." She and her husband live in Lawrenceville.

Turning point: "Former office warrior, I was unhappy, tired, overweight and often very sick. I struggled with yo-yo dieting, crazy fitness routines and spotty gym attendance. … I never could lose the weight I wanted to lose, the exercise habit never seemed to stick, and I slid off of the latest fad diet the moment Friday rolled around. I had no idea what I was doing wrong and, in the meantime, the pounds packed on. … I slowly slid into the pit of depression and self-pity. … I woke up one morning and realized that I was fat. That was it. I hate using that word, but that was exactly how I saw myself. I don't know if it was the constant joint pain, having colds every other week, or my clothes being too tight. … I stuffed my butt into a pair of leggings and went to the gym. … It sucked for a very long time, but, with every pound lost, I felt better."

Diet plan: "I follow a flexible dieting plan also known as IIFYM, If It Fits Your Macros. I have a calorie goal for the day, along with a certain number of grams of protein, carbohydrate and fat that I should be eating for optimal muscle development and performance."

Exercise routine: "I usually do heavy resistance training, lifting heavy weights, five times a week and do 20 minutes of high-intensity interval training four times a week."

Biggest challenge: "The biggest challenge I have is not eating when I am stressed out. … I still slip every now and then, (but) knowing what I know now about diet and exercise, I am able to be proactive and not reactive."

How life has changed: "It is a very liberating feeling to wake up every morning and love what you see in the mirror … seeing the results motivates me even more to keep doing what I am doing and to keep training. I now know that nothing is impossible, and that made me bolder in making choices when it comes to my life in general. … Achieving my fitness goals showed me that I am worth it and I should never settle for what I think I deserve, but instead I should go after what I know I should have." Her advice: "Eat with your goals in mind. Treats are for dogs, meals are for people."

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 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or e-mail Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.