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 / Jerry Stafford, 75: From 190 pounds to 154 pounds
Former weight: 190 pounds
Current weight: 154 pounds
Pounds lost: 36 pounds
Height: 5 feet, 7 inches
Age: 75 years
How long he's kept it off: Started Weight Watchers in July 2011 where he lost 22 pounds. In total, he's lost 36 pounds and kept it off since January 2012.
Personal life: "My wife's name is Reba; been married 42 years, she's been a great support throughout this whole thing," says Stafford. "I have four children, 13 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. I am retired from AT&T … I belong to Sunrise Baptist Church in Lawrenceville. I work golf tournaments; I'm a marshall."
Turning point: While in Moldova on a mission trip, he met a little girl who changed his life. "She was Moldovan about 8 or 9 years old … we put on a kids' camp … she thought that the funniest thing in the world was to bounce this ball off my stomach. So I thought, 'OK, it's time to do something about this.' She's the reason I lost the weight. She was my starting point … plus I'm a diabetic … At one time, I was up to 190 pounds, I tried a lot of different things: Atkins, cabbage soup diet, the problem is the weight comes right back when you get off of [the diets]."
Diet plan: "I'm not on a diet, I am on Weight Watchers which is a lifestyle change." Breakfast is oatmeal or fruit. Lunch is a sandwich or salad. Dinner is usually out, sharing an entree with his wife to cut portions.
Exercise routine: "I use free weights, but my main activity is walking which is cardio."
Biggest challenge: "The biggest challenge was getting started; like most people who have lost weight, I tried everything."
How life has changed: "Where my story comes in is the 5Ks. I had never in my life run a 5K; I was not a runner." When Weight Watchers encouraged activity, he "started a program, couch-to-5K in five weeks. I used that to prepare for the race. I did the Run the Reagan 5K in February 2012, three days before my 72nd birthday, and then I decided to do a few more … On Sunday Oct. 4, I completed my 82nd 5K race … I finished first in my age group, which was my 52nd medal and 59th award overall." Although he is not able to run due to a cardiac issue, that doesn't stop his momentum."The other runners … are very patient waiting for me to finish. He looks forward to wearing his newest race shirt at his weekly meetings. "People encourage me so I try to do the same thing."
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