Renee J. Ross loses 50 pounds

Height: 5 feet 6 inches

Age: 40

How long she's kept it off: Three months. She started November 2009 and reached her goal in June 2010.

Personal life: "I am a freelance writer and stay-at-home mother," said Ross. "I write for my personal blog, Cutie Booty Cakes (www.cutiebootycakes.com), and other Web sites. Additionally, I am a social media consultant ... I frequently speak at social media conferences."

Turning point: "I decided to lose weight because I want to be healthy," she said. "I was on the verge of hypertension and possibly diabetes. I want to be a positive role model for my 3-year-old son and show him the importance of healthy eating habits and exercise."

Diet plan: She started with Jenny Craig for the first three months and then used SparkPeople.com (www.sparkpeople.com) to monitor her eating habits. Now she's following a clean diet that excludes dairy, gluten and soy. Breakfast is a protein shake, lunch is falafel with lentils and dinner is usually stir fry with shrimp and lots of veggies.

Exercise routine: "I am currently running four times a week and doing yoga or another form of cross-training at least twice a week," she said.

Biggest challenge: "My biggest challenge now is not worrying about the number [on] the scale," she said. "My pants size has decreased tremendously -- I've gone from a size 16 to a size 6, but I weigh more than I did 10 years ago. Despite being heavier, I am smaller, so I constantly have to remind myself that muscle weighs more than fat and the true indicator of my success is how my clothes fit and how I feel."

How life has changed: "I have more energy to keep up with my rambunctious 3-year-old, and he understands the importance of exercise. He is my biggest cheerleader, and I love that my changes have positively influenced him," she said. "I contribute a great deal of my success to the public documentation of my journey. It not only kept me accountable, but I also inspired other people to exercise and eat right."

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 e-mail 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.