Joseph Padanilam, 42, of Atlanta lost 41 pounds
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 email Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
Former weight: 207 pounds
Current weight: 166 pounds
Pounds lost: 41 pounds
Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Age: 42 years
How long he's kept it off: His weight-loss journey began in January, and on July 1 he reached his current weight.
Personal life: "I'm a senior manager at Midtown Consulting Group and reside in the Buckhead section of town," Padanilam said. "I am married to my lovely wife, Tess Thomas (featured in Success Stories on Oct. 31). We celebrated our eighth anniversary this past July, and we have two children, Lily, age 4, and Thomas, age 2."
Turning point: "The turning point for me was I got on the scale in early January 2012 and weighed 207 pounds, which is the most I've ever weighed in my life," he said. "I only had myself to blame for not exercising and eating poorly throughout 2011. I wanted to radically change things to set a good example for my children. … I wanted to get to 170 pounds and got there and then some by July 1, 2012, thanks to spin, Insanity and marathon training."
Diet plan: "I eat five small meals a day, with each ranging from 350 to 400 calories," he said. Breakfast is a protein shake or Greek yogurt. Midday snacks are soup. Lunch is a half pita with lean meat, avocado and cheese. Dinner is chicken or seafood with rice and vegetables.
Exercise routine: "I did spin classes three to four times a week for an hour per session at the YMCA for about three months. I then transitioned to the Insanity program. … When I started Insanity, I also began training for a marathon using a 26-week training program that I found on MarathonRookie.com. The first week of marathon training was strictly walking followed by seven weeks with run/walks that gradually increased to about 40 minutes."
Biggest challenge: "Biggest challenge is staying focused and disciplined on eating properly," he said. "I honestly find the exercise the easy part. The hard part is resisting the temptation to eat more than you should."
How life has changed: "I trained for and ran my first marathon," he said. "It was the Marine Corp Marathon (on Oct. 28) in Washington, D.C. Thankfully, Hurricane Sandy spared us during race day and we were able to leave Washington, D.C., safely without incident. … Now that I've reached my target weight, I'm always thinking about my next fitness goal to maintain my weight — I plan to train for an Olympic triathlon." As to his secret to success, Padanilam said: "Always remember that staying healthy and fit improves all aspects of your life."
