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 / Paul McClellan, 42: From 217 pounds to 168 pounds
Former weight: 217 pounds
Current weight: 168 pounds
Pounds lost: 49 pounds
Height: 5 feet 10 inches
Age: 42 years
How long he's kept it off: He started in August 2014 and reached his goal weight in April.
Personal life: "I'm the general manager of an automotive shop," said McClellan. "I live in the Marietta area. I have two kids: one is 9 and one is 6. I'm married."
Turning point: "I was walking by some windows at work, they are like mirrored windows, I looked and saw my big … belly hanging out. I decided I had to lose weight," he said. "My wife forced me to go to Weight Watchers for the first time. I went reluctantly … I am a very stubborn person, she really helped me with this whole lifestyle change … I didn't want to go to a meeting with a bunch of strangers. Now I'm one of the guys that talks a lot while I'm there."
Diet plan: "I pretty much eat anything I want, hopefully what I eat is higher fiber and lower fat." He has a shake in the morning or eggs. Lunch is a tuna sandwich on low-carb bread. Dinner is usually chicken or fish. He no longer drinks sodas and eats more fruits and vegetables.
Exercise routine: "I don't exercise at all," he said. "My job is non-stop running all over the place … I do 13,000 to 15,000 steps per day. [One] Friday I did 17,000 steps. I do about five to seven miles just walking around. Just recently, I joined a tennis team and I play golf – been playing for years."
Biggest challenge: "I am extremely stubborn so once I started, it was getting started. Don't get me wrong, I do crave things I don't eat anymore — but it's not worth it to me. When I eat bratwurst, instead of eating three I have one or half of one. I enjoy it and then move on."
How life has changed: "I'm able to do projects around the house I normally wouldn't have done. I have an increase in energy — I used to be so tired. Increase in what I would I call recovery from a long hard day — it doesn't take as long to recover," he said. "I played tennis for an hour-and-a-half and didn't get tired. I played golf, normally I get tired at the 12th hole, I was fine through to the 18th hole and I wanted to go another 18 holes … My health has improved a ton too, I used to be on a bunch of medicines, cholesterol meds, high blood pressure meds, and I'm not anymore … It's really a lifestyle change — it means I will make healthier choices for the rest of my life."
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