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 / Keith A. Schiesser, 39: From 274 pounds to 174 pounds
Former weight: 274 pounds
Current weight: 174 pounds
Pounds lost: 100 pounds
Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Age: 39 years
How long he's kept it off: He started in April 2011 and reached his current weight in April 2012.
Personal life: "I am a mechanical engineer for a large global company," says Schiesser, who lives in Lawrenceville.
Turning point: "In April of 2011, I stepped onto the scale one day and was rewarded with a weight of 274 pounds. This was the heaviest I had ever been," he says. "Not to mention that I would soon be put on high blood pressure medicine. These were two facts that smacked some much-needed sense into my head … I knew I wanted to change, I knew I needed to change and I knew I had to commit to change." His twentieth high school reunion was coming up in February 2012. "I was not going to attend the event looking like I did at the time."
Diet plan: "I have followed my own plan," he says. "I am a very picky eater so to say I switched to a completely healthy, vegetables-and-lean-protein diet would be a lie. Thus, I am living proof that it doesn't take giving up on eating the things you like. It just takes a change in how much you eat, and it doesn't hurt if you stop eating a bunch of fried foods, which I used to. Of course, if you like healthy foods like vegetables, you will probably be better off than me." He eats cereal for breakfast, a turkey sandwich and chips for lunch and a chicken wrap for dinner.
Exercise routine: "I work out in the gym about three times a week," he says. "This includes about twelve to fifteen minutes of warmup on the elliptical followed by about twenty minutes of weight training. I also play basketball at lunch with my co-workers twice a week."
Biggest challenge: "I think the biggest challenge is sticking to the new lifestyle that you have created. I was out of shape most of my adult life and my personal happiness and self-esteem suffered because of it. I made a decision to change my life for the better and it requires a commitment for the rest of your life …This is very daunting and challenging, but nobody ever said being healthy is easy."
How life has changed: "I am still adjusting to the new me and how I want to live my life going forward. I … feel as good as I did back in high school — the last time I was at my current weight," he says. In February, he attended his reunion. "I was quite pleased with my progress as I had lost basically 90 pounds by that time. I went and had a wonderful time … I look forward to each day now and cannot wait until I find the right person to share the rest of my life with … I feel confident that I will meet her soon."
