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 Patty Murphy, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or e-mail Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
Former weight: 190 pounds
Current weight: 135 pounds
Pounds lost: 55 pounds
Height: 5 feet 6 ½ inches
Age: 24 years
How long she's kept it off: She started in July 2011 and reached her current weight in March.
Personal life: "I'm currently still finishing up my exercise science degree at Georgia State University," says Johnson. "I founded BodyLanguage, which focuses on promoting healthy lifestyle choices through exercise, nutrition, and developing a positive attitude. I am also a personal trainer and work part-time as a server in Braselton, Ga." She lives in Flowery Branch.
Turning point: "The turning point was when my sister posted pictures of my family and myself on Facebook after a day on a high-ropes course. I was so embarrassed seeing how much weight I had gained and wanted her to delete them. Her response was: 'If you don't like what you see, then change it.' Although I was hurt when she said it, it was the truth and I thank her up to this day for opening my eyes and making me realize that I was the only one in control of myself."
Diet plan: "I used to live across the street from McDonald's, so the first thing I did was cut out the fast-food and started cooking," she says. She also cut out gluten. Breakfast is a spinach omelet, fruit and nuts for a snack, chicken, vegetables and rice for lunch. She has fruit in the afternoon and grilled chicken salad for dinner. She gave up soda and drinks only water.
Exercise routine: "I always worked out for a minimum of three times per week, usually no more than five. My sessions consisted of 25-30 minutes of cardio and 20-30 minutes of resistance training on machines, using body weight, resistance bands or free weights."
Biggest challenge: "A challenge, even up to this date, for me is consistency. Usually when I have great workouts, I catch myself cheating on my diet," she says. "The biggest challenge was saying no to fast food. It took me about three to five weeks to not crave any fast food and actually enjoy my home-cooked meals without the added salts and other sodium-rich seasonings."
How life has changed: "My entire life has completely changed. Living healthy is no longer about what I see in the mirror, but how I treat myself and the ones around me. My positive attitude has allowed me to break my old habits and continues to do so. Physically and mentally I'm able to enjoy an entire new form of freedom. My favorite motto is: The difference between who you are and who you want to be, is what you do. Self-discipline and determination isn't something we either have or don't have, it's something we have to practice every single day to get it."
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