Rookmin Maharaj, 44, of Cumming lost 24 pounds

Pounds lost: 24 pounds

Height: 5 feet 1 ¾ inches

Age: 44 years

How long she's kept it off: Maharaj started Dec. 2 and reached her current weight May 2.

Personal life: "I live in Cumming, Ga. I have been married for 16 years and have a 13-year-old son," Maharaj said. "After working as a journalist for years doing some freelance writing and editing, I am returning to full-time work as an outreach coordinator for the next school year."

Turning point: "After going to see all my doctors last year for my annual visit, I was gaining weight and I wasn't sure why," Maharaj said. "Everybody kept telling me if I don't start losing weight, I was going to have to go on preventative medicines for pre-diabetes and cholesterol. I was working out four to five times per week and (was) very active playing tennis. … I was saying to myself, 'Why am I gaining weight?' My energy level was taking a dive, and I wasn't sleeping well either." Doctors determined she had high blood pressure and a thyroid issue. "I saw a friend walk by at my children's school and she looked great. I said, 'what is your secret?' " Maharaj said. "She told me about Nancy and Real Health Medical. On Dec. 2, when I started the program, I was 153 pounds — it was the heaviest I had ever been outside of being pregnant. … I was very sluggish. My energy level was really low." Food intolerance testing revealed her body was possibly inflamed by foods she regularly consumed. "It started to make sense," she said. "… I was eating all this stuff and I was reacting to it."

Diet plan: Breakfast is coffee with coconut milk, an apple and an egg. Lunch and dinner are protein with vegetables, rice or a sweet potato.

Exercise routine: "I am working out four times per week," she said. "I am trying to get into running. I have been doing a mile to a mile and a half, and I play tennis twice a week."

Biggest challenge: "Wrapping my head around stuff that I couldn't eat anymore, such as broccoli, yogurt, cheese, bread, tomatoes — that was the hardest challenge for me," Maharaj said. "… I think not being able to have tomatoes in any form is one of the biggest challenges. If I want to eat pasta, I make a sauce using bell peppers instead of tomatoes — I'm getting creative."

How life has changed: "It has changed in the sense that I am more aware of what I am eating. … I haven't had cereal since December, and I was a big cereal eater," Maharaj said. "… I am back down to a size small. I am back down to wearing some shorts I bought four years ago. I kept these jeans I loved that were pre-pregnancy jeans, and they are fitting me again."

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 wanting 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.