Todd Smith of Hiram loses 106 pounds

By Michelle Brooks

For the AJC

Former weight: 276 pounds

Current weight: 170 pounds

Pounds lost: 106

Height: 5 feet 11 inches

How long he’s kept it off: “I started September 2008, and reached goal in November 2009,” Smith said.

Personal life: “I live in Hiram with my beautiful wife, Rita, and our three children, Christine, Alan and Patrick. I work for DeKalb County Parks and Recreation, and my family and I attend Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Hiram.”

Turning point: “I turned 40 in 2008 and was sick of seeing pictures that did not look like me,” he said. “I was more than 100 pounds overweight, had high blood pressure, suffered indigestion by day and reflux at night, did not sleep well, my knees constantly ached, and I had no energy. I wanted to live a more [healthful] lifestyle and get in shape. A Weight Watchers at Work program was starting at my office, so I decided to sign up and commit to the 16-week plan,” he said. “I think what made this work for me was the constant encouragement and support my family gives me.”

Diet plan: “I totally turned away from the bad food choices I was making,” he said. “Now I eat more wise and healthy choices such as whole-grain cereals and breads, low-fat yogurts, fruits and vegetables every day, and we now bake a lot of our food. I drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and I now take my coffee black, as opposed to loaded with sugar. I usually get a piece of fruit or a nice crunchy raw vegetable to fight the munchies.”

Exercise routine: “I rotate from cardio to weights every other day, usually six days a week. I try to walk every day after lunch.”

Biggest challenge: “My biggest challenge was not to be defeated or to give up after having a setback, like a small weight gain or no-loss weigh in.”

How life has changed: “I feel great,” he said. “I have so much more energy and [am] able to be active. I wanted to be a healthy and fit dad — not a couch potato dad.”

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 ajcsuccess
stories@gmail.com.