J.R. Rees of McDonough loses 136 pounds

By Michelle Brooks

For the AJC

Former weight: 
292 pounds

Current weight: 
156 pounds

Pounds lost: 136

Height: 5 feet 7 inches

How long he’s kept it off: He started Weight Watchers in September 2008. He’s 1 pound from his goal.

Personal life: “I live in McDonough with my wonderful wife of almost four years, Melissa,” he said. “I work as executive director of the Organization of Christian Musicians (www.theocm.org) and as an assistant to a professional in the music business.”

Turning point: “I have been overweight my entire life,” Rees said. “At age 30, I became concerned with aches, pains and ailments that a young 30-year-old should not have. I was on medication for high blood pressure, had constant back pain and had trouble breathing during just normal walking. ... My mother and both grandmothers are diabetic, and my father had a heart attack and triple bypass before he was 60. So I feared that it was just a matter of time before I developed even more serious health issues as well.”

Diet plan: Breakfast is typically high-fiber cereal with fat-free milk or an egg white omelet. Lunch is a turkey breast sandwich and fruit or sushi. Dinner is lean meat with veggies.

Exercise routine: “I was the kid in high school gym class that would walk the mile when everyone was running it,” he said. He started by walking on a treadmill, and when Weight Watchers introduced its Momentum Walk-It Challenge, it motivated him to start running. Last year he competed in six races and is planning to run the AJC Peachtree Road Race this year.

Biggest challenge: “The biggest challenge for me has been the mental aspect of everything.”

How life has changed: “The biggest change in life is my health and how I feel,” he said. “I am off blood pressure medication, my cholesterol and blood sugar are great, and I do not have any aches and pains.” He went from a XXX-large shirt size to medium, and at Christmas friends and family members didn’t recognize him.

“Being active and involved in my Weight Watchers meetings has been critical. It has provided a built-in support group. Finally, I had to accept that I am changing my lifestyle and getting rid of bad habits — not simply going on a diet.”

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, Sixth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303; or 
e-mail ajcsuccessstories
@gmail.com.