Jerry Wilson, 48, of Newnan loses 80 pounds

By Michelle C. Brooks

For the AJC


Former weight: 238 pounds

Current weight: 158 pounds

Pounds lost: 80 pounds

Height: 5 feet 9 inches

How long he’s kept it off: 
1 1/2 years. He started in November 2007.

Personal life: “I work for Delta Air Lines as a mechanic,” he said. “I also am a full-time caregiver for my wife, Sandra, who is a quadriplegic from an auto accident 22 years ago.” He and Sandra have been married for 15 years and live in Newnan.

Turning point: “I went for a routine physical, which revealed my liver enzymes were high, so my doctor referred me to an internal specialist. He wanted to do a biopsy on my liver by inserting a hollow needle through my rib cage and taking a core sample,” said Wilson, who asked for an alternative. The doctor suggested he lose some weight and come back in a month. “I lost about 20 pounds during that month and my blood work did show improvement — saving me from an invasive procedure.”

Diet plan: “Basic plan to start was from the Six Week Body Makeover, which taught me portion control, eating five balanced meals a day and how to make nonfatty and nonsugared foods taste good,” he said. “I have tweaked the basic plan to fit me because it’s a lifestyle, not a diet.”

Exercise routine: He started on a treadmill but gradually started running outside. “As my wife’s caregiver, I do a lot of lifting and moving, so I think that also helps me work out my upper body,” he said.

Biggest challenge: “I had to learn that my weight might fluctuate slightly from day to day. I had to make myself look at other indicators to be encouraged that I was still successful.”

How life has changed: “At my heaviest, I was taking blood pressure medicine, antidepressants and having to sleep with a [continuous positive airway pressure] machine.” He also awoke each morning with a headache. Now he’s off all his medicines, sleeps really well and has run in several 5K and 10K races, “including my first Peachtree (Road Race) this year, which was a dream come true.”

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.