Bruce Nylund, 66, of Athens loses 77 pounds

• Former weight: 347 pounds

• Current weight: 270 pounds

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‘I had spent most of my life doing some type of exercise, so when I realized I was 61 years old and 347 pounds, I figured it was time for some changes in my life,’ he said. ‘I started losing when my wife started working on her Ph.D.; she finished two years after I lost my weight.’

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‘My slacks size went from size 50 to a 40. I feel like a new man – a lot smaller man.’

• Pounds lost: 77

• Height: 6 feet 6 inches

• How long he’s kept it off: two years

• Personal life: Nylund is retired from Pan American Airways. He and his wife live in Athens.

• Turning point: “I had spent most of my life doing some type of exercise, so when I realized I was 61 years old and 347 pounds, I figured it was time for some changes in my life,” he said. “I started losing when my wife started working on her Ph.D.; she finished two years after I lost my weight.”

• Diet plan: “I quit drinking Jack Daniel’s and beer,” he said. “Then I went on the Atkins diet. I ate only protein for three months, then started adding a few carbs as long as I kept losing a couple of pounds a week. Now I eat a more rounded diet and weigh myself every day.”

• Exercise routine: “I still continued weightlifting. I was benching 315 pounds until they did an MRI for shoulder pain,” he said. “I was told I couldn’t lift anymore because my shoulders were pretty much shot. My wife bought me a book on tiger moves (www.transformetricscom/exercises ) and I’ve been doing them for over two years,” he said. “I walk on my treadmill and use my cable set five days a week for about one hour a day, plus I swim in our pool which has helped my shoulder pain.”

• Biggest challenge: “Once I made up my mind to lose, I had no problems,” he said. “I think my stomach shrank, so I really don’t get that hungry.”

• How life has changed: “My life hasn’t really changed that much other than having more energy and feeling a lot better,” he says. “My slacks size went from size 50 to a 40. I feel like a new man — a lot smaller man. I have only five more pounds to be the same weight I was when I graduated high school back in 1960..”

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