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 / Jason Smith, 29: From 367 pounds to 222 pounds
Former weight: 367 pounds
Current weight: 222 pounds
Pounds lost: 145 pounds
Height: 6 feet, 2 inches
Age: 29 years
How long he's kept it off: "Started seriously trying to lose weight my last year of nursing school which was in 2010," Smith said. "Reached this weight about a year ago and would like to eventually get below 200 pounds."
Personal life: "I live in Midtown Atlanta and work as an assistant nurse manager for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta."
Turning point: "After years of yo-yo dieting and failed attempts at every diet imaginable – I even had lap-band surgery without success — I made it my mission to lose the weight my last year of nursing school. I was 367 pounds and was miserable," he said. "I was so ashamed and afraid of what others thought — I refused to do anything enjoyable or active. I was so fed up with how I looked and furthermore the negative effects that it had on my social life and my self-esteem."
Diet plan: "The diet regimen that finally worked for me was calorie counting," he said. "There were times that I was eating far below the healthy recommended caloric intake [but] I wanted to lose the weight and knew that drastically reducing what I ate and subsequently increasing my exercise would work … I currently don't have a particular diet; I just … cut back on my intake if I notice that I am starting to gain a few pounds."
Exercise routine: "Initially, all I did was cardio which primarily consisted of either the treadmill, elliptical or exercise videos. I have since moved into running and strength-training and this is what I primarily do now."
Biggest challenge: "Sweet tea — I could easily consume a gallon of sweet tea a day." He now drinks more water and traded sugar for Splenda to sweeten his Southern-style tea.
How life has changed: "I am so much more active and self-confident; I no longer fear going out and being sociable," he said. "The weight loss has made it possible to be active with my nieces and nephews as there is no way I could do the activities with them previously that I am currently getting to do. I am able to date which was not even an option for me when I was heavy. I still have some of those same thoughts and fears about being the fat kid and find myself wondering if I am being judged by others. Luckily, this is not near as huge of an issue as it once was and continues to be less of one."
