Lisa DeMoss, 46, of Marietta, Ga., lost 31 pounds

Pounds lost: 31 pounds

Height: 5 feet 5 inches

Age: 46 years

How long she's kept it off: "I started August 1, 2016, and reached my current weight on May 15, 2017," DeMoss says.

Personal life: "I live in the east Cobb area of Marietta, where I work as an administrative director for a local Chick-fil-A franchisee. I have been married for 21 years to David and have two children, Abby, 10, and Duncan, 8."

Turning point: "The last few years I always knew that I need to lose weight and take better care of myself. In February of 2016, I went to the doctor for a physical because I just knew something was wrong. I had no energy, discomfort in my gut and was depressed. My fear was that I was going to become a diabetic because diabetes runs in my family. The doctor did not find anything physically wrong with me. His suggestions were more exercise and change my diet. A friend of mine was attending a Sparkle a New You class led by Jacynta Harb (www.sparkleanewyou.com) and was getting great results. … Jacynta talked about how weight loss was going to be hard but worth the journey. Giving something a 'try' was giving me permission to back out. If I was going to succeed, I needed to make a commitment to myself. … I always resisted the thought of keeping track, but (My Fitness Pal) was exactly what I needed. Being able to see where the calories and sugar were coming from was so important."

Diet plan: "I try to use the Mediterranean way of eating." Breakfast is Greek yogurt, granola and fruit. Lunch is a grilled chicken salad or wrap, and dinner is chicken or fish with vegetables and quinoa.

Exercise routine: "With kids and working part time, it has been a challenge to incorporate exercise in my daily routine. I do a lot of walking in my neighborhood. I enjoy seeing how many steps I can get on my Fitbit. I also take group fitness classes at Johnson Ferry Baptist. I was challenged to do one 5K a month — I have completed nine since September."

Biggest challenge: "My biggest challenge is not feeling like a failure when my day gets off track or when my kids don't eat or like what I make for dinner. I'm having to retrain them as well as myself. … Taking one day at a time was key for me at the beginning. … I knew making small changes would provide big rewards later."

How life has changed: "I love how much energy I have now. I am more engaged with my family, friends and work. … I look forward to the future. I feel like I have added years to my life. My goal is to stay on track and be an inspiration to my kids."

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