Don Jennings, 49, of Atlanta loses 63 pounds

By Michelle C. Brooks

For the AJC

Former weight: 248 pounds Current weight: 185 pounds

Pounds lost: 63 pounds Height: 5 feet, 11 inches

How long he’s kept it off: He started in September 2008, and hopes to reach his goal weight of 180 pounds by November.

Personal life: “I live in Morningside with my wife and our two unruly children, a cat and a parrot,” Jennings said. He works for a multinational company based in Atlanta.

Turning point: “I have been exercising regularly for several years but due to my eating habits, I was still gaining weight,” he said. “I decided that it was possible that the dry cleaners really weren’t shrinking my clothes as part of some conspiracy, so I decided it was time to reverse the trend; especially since I have a history of heart disease in my family.”

Diet plan: “I wanted a sensible, sustainable diet plan — not a fad diet. I eliminated all junk food and focused on eating three healthy and well-balanced meals every day,” he said. A typical breakfast is a protein shake or an egg white omelet, turkey bacon and oatmeal. Lunch is a spinach salad with grilled chicken or fish. Dinner is a frozen dinner with a small salad.

Exercise routine: “Most of my exercise is done in the early morning, but two times a week I work out in the morning and again in the evening,” he said. “My exercise routine consists of running 5-7 miles three times a week with a running group ... attending one or two spinning classes, one body conditioning class and working out with a personal trainer twice a week.”

Biggest challenge: “The biggest challenge at the beginning was to learn how to prepare, enjoy and be satisfied with smaller portions and healthy meals. Once the weight started coming off it became much easier and it motivated me to do even better.”

How life has changed: “I feel better than I ever have physically and mentally. I had borderline hypertension and high cholesterol and was taking daily meds for both for almost 10 years. After a recent physical, my doctor took me off of both meds because my blood pressure and cholesterol level are now well into the normal range.”

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 Suzanne Van Atten, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sixth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303; or e-mail ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.