Teresa Brown, 50, of Roswell lost 21 pounds

Pounds lost: 21 pounds

Height: 5 feet 5 inches

Age: 50 years

How long she's kept it off: Brown started in August 2018 and met her goal in March of this year.

Personal life: "I live in Roswell, Georgia, and have been married for 10 1/2 years to my awesome husband, Dave. We have one son, Evan, who is 8 years old, and a new puppy, Ellie. I am a national account manager for a merchandise agency who is based out of Seattle," says Brown.

Turning point: "At the end of last summer, I was miserable with my weight and appearance. I was turning 50 in five months and did not want to be an overweight, old mother. Although I can't do anything about my age, I knew that losing weight was my priority. I have lost the same 10 pounds several times, but this time was going to be different for me. I started Sparkle A New You, with wellness coach Jacynta Harb in August of 2018, who has taught me that weight loss is having total mind control about what you eat and that exercise aids in the process. … I plan to continue with Sparkle forever as I am 100 percent committed to keeping the weight off for good this time."

Diet plan: "Breakfast, I have some form of eggs every morning. Lunch is usually a salad with chicken or some type of protein. Dinner is a protein and veggies. My snacks throughout the day consist of raw nuts, fruit and I make sure that I drink a lot of water."

Exercise routine: "I walk at least five times a week for my exercise for at least 30 minutes."

Biggest challenge: "Eating at night — I tend to eat less when I am busy. So, at night, when I wind down, I want more to eat. … A girl in my Sparkle class gave a recipe for a bunch of raw nuts and dried blueberries, all from Trader Joe's, and it has saved my life when I am hungry and need something to fill me up."

How life has changed: "Most of my clothes are too big. Transitioning from winter to summer clothes has made me realize how much smaller that I am from last summer. I also have more energy and want to exercise consistently." She believes her secret to success has been her persistence: "Be consistent, keep moving and don't eat junk food." After her own experience of weight loss, she suggests others should avoid trendy diets and quick fixes: "Don't try gimmicky diets or pills, and start concentrating on what you eat every day. Don't skip meals, and try to exercise consistently." For the future, she intends to make this way of eating and exercising a permanent lifestyle change: "My goal is to keep the weight off forever."

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.