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.
Former weight: 248 pounds
Current weight: 173 pounds
Pounds lost: 75 pounds
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Age: 25 years
How long he's kept it off: He started in August 2010 and reached his goal in October.
Personal life: "I live in Mableton with my fiancée, Tori and our four pets," says Hicks. "I work as a systems and networks administrator for an international freight forwarder headquartered in Atlanta, Ga."
Turning point: "I was in great shape when I was younger because I worked in construction, which had me constantly moving and lifting, so an office job was quite a shock. The turning point for me was the day I finally bought a scale to see what my occupation and eating habits had done. The day I saw 248 pounds was the day I decided that it was time to do something about it."
Diet plan: "Instead of subscribing to a formal diet, I decided to simply eat healthier, more natural foods and supplement vitamins," he says. "A typical day includes oatmeal for breakfast, chicken and vegetables for lunch and turkey, chicken or fish with vegetables for dinner. My fiancée and I have also recently decided to slowly phase meat out of our diets and focus more on a clean, vegetarian diet."
Exercise routine: "I am in the gym at least four days per week," he says. He runs three to four times per week and lifts weights at the gym. "I decided I needed a challenge that didn't involve work so I decided, on a whim, to participate in the Atlanta Track Club's 2012 Atlanta Half Marathon and Thanksgiving Day 5K (www.atlantatrackclub.org) … I completed the half marathon with a time of 2:05:56."
Biggest challenge: "The biggest challenge for me was not only committing to making a change, but finding the time to do so," he says. "We live in a world where it is far more convenient to grab fast food because we don't think we have time to cook and eat properly. Once I committed to making the time for myself, the rest began to fall into place … Don't get too caught up in gimmick diets or pills – the human body is capable of incredible things if we simply treat it well."
How life has changed: "I am far more active now, and in better shape than I have ever been," he says. "Instead of looking forward to being home on the couch, I look forward to my next workout and seeing how else I can improve myself. This journey has also taught me a lot about the importance of setting goals and the long-term benefits of reaching them. My personal motto has become try harder. Whenever I am facing something that seems insurmountable, I remind myself that all I have to do is try harder and I am often surprised at how the task was in hindsight."
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