Shunita Averett, 41, of Decatur lost 54 pounds

Pounds lost: 54 pounds

Height: 6 feet 1 ½ inches

Age: 41 years

How long she's kept it off: She started in 2016 and reached her current weight last year.

Personal life: "I'm a mother of a 13-year-old, I have a 2-year-old dog and I'm a Navy veteran," said Averett, who lives in Decatur.

Turning point: "I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize myself," Averett said. "I met with a nutritionist at first, at ANKH Feminine Wellness Spa. … I needed to get exercise, so I met up with Carla Fields Fitness Inc., and then through the Veterans Administration, I got mental health. … Do I mess up? Yeah, I used to beat myself up. We're human, and that's where the mental health comes in. I'm big on the mental health part. I have to do the mindfulness part. If my mental (well-being) isn't together, I can't get in my kitchen and prepare the right meals. I can't mindfully shop in the grocery store. … You're going to have days where you don't want to. When you have all three things — mental, physical and your nutrition — you've got it."

Diet plan: Breakfast is a bacon-and-egg sandwich. Lunch and dinner are grilled chicken or salmon, broccoli or sauteed spinach, and sliced tomatoes. "I have no junk in my house," she said. "If I want chips, I have to get in my car."

Exercise routine: "I work out five days a week," Averett said. "We do everything at Carla's, from high-intensity training to cardio — you name it we do it. … Saturday and Sunday, I take my dog for a walk, then I walk 2 miles, but that don't count for me. It makes me feel better, it makes my mind feel better. I feel great. I can walk upstairs without being out of breath."

Biggest challenge: "Definitely the food," Averett said. "For me, that has been the biggest challenge. My nutritionist encouraged me to start small, it was a little bit at a time. It's still the food. Growing up, I didn't eat broccoli, we didn't have that. … I can do the working out, I can push through, I need the trainer saying do it, but it definitely was the food."

How life has changed: "I feel healthier because in my family we have a lot of high blood pressure," Averett said. "By starting this journey in my 30s, my weight is down and my doctor is even noticing it. It made me feel great for my family to notice. We had a family dinner, and some of the food was baked this time. That means they were paying attention, they were listening, without me preaching to them how I am healthier now. … Now, will this work for anybody else? Well, you've got to find what works for you because we're all different. You have to find your formula. … I would like people to know it's never too late to start."

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.