Kathryn T. Farley, 48, of Atlanta lost 103 pounds

Height: 5 foot 9 inches

Age: 48 years

How long she's kept it off: "It has been one full year since I started my program and I am still taking off weight," Farley says.

Personal life: "I am a college professor who teaches in the theatre, performance studies and dance department at Kennesaw State University. My expertise is instructing students how to create and operate new media tools in live performance settings. I obtained a doctorate in performance from Northwestern University and completed a three-year teaching fellowship in my specialty at the Georgia Institute of Technology." She is single and lives in Atlanta.

Turning point: "My first cousin was the late comedian Chris Farley and, like him, I have had long-term issues with weight," she says. "No single event or embarrassing photo caused me to change my life. Rather, the decision to pursue a healthy lifestyle came about after many failed attempts to lose weight and maintain the loss."

Diet plan: A typical day starts with yogurt and a breakfast bar. Lunch is a turkey sandwich, pretzels and a salad. Dinner is fish or lean meat with veggies and fruit. Snacks include hummus and crackers.

Exercise routine: She works with a trainer at Body Solutions (www.bodysolutionsatlanta.com) twice a week, runs three times a week and swims twice a week. "I entered a distance swimming competition in Lake Michigan last August. This inspired me to join the U.S. Masters Swim Team at Georgia Tech (www.usms.org) when I returned to Atlanta."

Biggest challenge: "Having to buy a completely new wardrobe every month or so -- no joke," she says. "Shopping used to be fun, but now it is a bit of a chore. [Dropping seven sizes] requires constant updating."

How life has changed: "I am an active participant in my life, rather than casual observer," she says. "Start making changes today -- your life is much too precious to waste making excuses for just getting by when you could be thriving."

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