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 / Charles Seward, 66: From 310 pounds to 175 pounds
Former weight: 310 pounds
Current weight: 175 pounds
Pounds lost: 135 pounds
Height: 6 feet
Age: 66 years
How long he's kept it off: "Really focused on losing weight in the winter, January of 2010," said Seward. He reached his current weight in 2013.
Personal life: "Married 21 years with three adult children. Currently racing for the Unione Sportiva Italiana (USI) Cycling Team," he said. "I've won the Georgia Cycling Championship Series (GCS) men's age 55-plus category the past three years." He is retired from IBM and lives in Stockbridge.
Turning point: "I use to race for over 25 years … started in 1974 … but stopped in 1997 when I moved to Georgia and gained the weight. The late '90s was not a good time to be riding bikes on the Georgia roads," he said. "I met a old friend [and] former cycling pro … he gave me the motivation to start riding again … To jump-start the diet, I rode my bike every day and did not eat anything made with flour or rice, bread, potatoes for two months."
Diet plan: "I'm not big on breakfast, coffee and eggs maybe. I eat while riding — health bars, gels and lots of water. I tend to stay away from sports drinks unless I'm racing. Chicken, turkey, beans, pasta are my ongoing choice for late-day food intake. I don't drink alcohol or take any medications; apple pie is my vice."
Exercise routine: "Cycling four days a week plus racing on the weekends. Go to the gym twice a week during the summer and four times a week during the winter."
Biggest challenge: "Georgia food is high-fat eating and tastes good too – but after working so hard, it was a waste of time eating that way again," he said. "If I'm riding a lot and training hard, I won't deny myself anything. I don't eat much red meat, maybe once a month."
How life has changed: "My age is just a number. My vitality feels like I'm in my 30s. I need more recovery time, an extra day, after riding a 100-plus mile training ride, but I'll take that trade-off," he said. His advice includes: "Whatever you do, do it for you and be consistent. Think long-term, you might go off the plan, it's OK, start again. I purchased a bike jersey a few sizes smaller than I was and hung it up where I could see it every day. A person can do the same thing for any sport." Thinking toward the future, he said: "I now have the choice to participate in the USA Masters National Cycling Championships."
About the Author
