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 / Josh Heard, 29: From 350 pounds to 220 pounds
Former weight: 350 pounds
Current weight: 220 pounds
Pounds lost: 130 pounds
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Age: 29 years
How long he's kept it off: He started Christmas 2012 and reached his goal at the end of June.
Personal life: "I am marketing manager for a technology company, and I focus on mobility technology solutions for government … I work in Midtown, live in Chamblee," he says. "I can't wait to marry my best friend in February 2015."
Turning point: "I've been heavy since high school," he says. "I've always wanted and tried and fought to lose weight. The turning point though was a mental awakening. Even though I played sports as a kid, it never dawned on me before that I actually don't know anything about working out, eating healthy, fueling my body or how my actions contribute or detract from my health. Once it hit me — fuel your body, make data-driven decisions and track and measure everything, then it became clear exactly how my actions helped or hurt my health."
Diet plan: "No diet plan … I do count calories and try to stay within a range," he says. "I eat only natural, fresh food. I … try not to eat anything from a box."
Exercise routine: "I run four days a week over lunch, about four miles per day. I bike two days per week. Twenty to 30 miles per day. I go to Atlanta Kick for kickboxing and kettle bell in the evenings three days per week. I also really like to hike on the weekends and do yoga in the mornings."
Biggest challenge: "When getting started, it was tough to stay in the routine and commit to it. Regular tracking and positive motivational friends at Atlanta Kick and my fiancé really helped keep me accountable. During the journey, fatigue becomes your biggest enemy. Workout routines get stale, you get stressed and distracted by work and your health takes a backseat, even if it's just for a few days. I have also found that my biggest challenge today is changing gears. I'm no longer trying to lose weight but rather build muscle and strength."
How life has changed: "If I can achieve this, then I can achieve anything. I can face difficult work scenarios, I can face difficult emotional scenarios. I now have the mental tools to succeed through difficult challenges," he says. "My body was the result of what was going on in my head. Get your mind right … you have to recognize where you are to figure out where you're going."
About the Author
