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 email address, a daytime phone number and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG). Write: Success Stories, c/o Patty Murphy, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or e-mail Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
SUCCESS STORY / Andy Pascual, 33: From 200 pounds to 135 pounds
Former weight: 200 pounds
Current weight: 135 pounds
Pounds lost: 65
Height: 5 feet 2 inches
Age: 33
How long he's kept it off: "I started dieting and exercising in June 2010 with an initial goal to lose 40 pounds in six months and I hit it in five months. I've maintained my current weight for more than two years," says Pascual.
Personal life: "I'm married to wonderfully loving and supporting wife, and we just had our third child in August. I'm an assistant district attorney in DeKalb County and a judge advocate in the Georgia Army National Guard."
Turning point: "When my son was born in May 2010, I realized I really needed to lose weight," he says. "I was always husky growing up, got relatively fit in college at one point, but during and after law school, the pounds really started showing up…I could barely climb a flight of stairs without getting winded. I took a physical before I started exercising and the doctor had to conduct a stress test due to a concern with my heart. In addition to the weight, my other vitals were all alarmingly high. I knew I needed to change my body and lifestyle if I wanted to be around for my kids."
Diet plan: "I did nothing fancy, trendy, or special. I simply cut calories," he says. For breakfast, he traded fast-food for meal bars. Lunch is a turkey sandwich and a pudding or portion of chips. Dinner is what the family eats in proper portion. "The best thing I did was download a calorie-counting app."
Exercise routine: "During my weight-loss phase, I would do … an hour on our elliptical machine — which was largely unused for three years — for up to six days a week for cardio. I would also use our adjustable free weights and body weight exercises for strength. I started running when I trained for my first ever race, the 2011 Peachtree Road Race," he says. "The biggest exercise routine and incentive to continue was joining the Army … at least three days a week of pushups, pullups, situps, and running."
Biggest challenge: "I love to eat food: sweets, rice, pasta, you name it. So the biggest challenge is keeping that portion control in check, and adjusting my exercise for when I cheat on calories."
How life has changed: "I lost 10 inches off my waist and went from wearing large shirts to small. My wife says I don't snore like I used to when I was heavier. I feel like I have more energy to play with my kids and of course my self-confidence increased. I finally like how I look in pictures, and my wife jokes that I've perfected a skinny pose. The biggest change was joining the Army, which was always a dream that was never realized until I lost the weight and got fit."
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