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 Stephens, 33: From 535 pounds to 317 pounds
Former weight: 535 pounds
Current weight: 317 pounds
Pounds lost: 218 pounds
Height: 6 feet 3 inches
Age: 33 years
How long he's kept it off: He started in the summer of 2010 and is working toward his goal of weighing 275 pounds.
Personal life: "I am from Columbus, Ga., a former University Of Georgia football player," says Stephens, who was an offensive guard from 1998 to 2000. "I am currently an account specialist at The Home Depot." He lives in Austell.
Turning point: "When I was not able to walk from my car to my desk at work - I had to stop in the restroom to catch my breath; I knew then it was time for a change," he says.
Diet plan: "I made an appointment with a dietitian and we came up with a diet plan that I have stuck to. She told me that if it walks, run, swims or flies, I can eat as much as I want - so I load up on protein," he says. "For breakfast, I would eat four turkey patties. [For] lunch, I would eat two pieces of tilapia and some veggies and for dinner, I would eat four boneless chicken breasts and more veggies. I cut out sodas and sweets."
Exercise routine: "I work out twice a day, five days week," he says. "In the morning, before work, I go to LA Fitness … and swim for 45 minutes. After work, I utilize the gym at my job and work out again for about an hour and a half. I follow the same workout routine I did while playing football at the University of Georgia."
Biggest challenge: "My biggest challenge was changing my eating habits," he says. "With me playing sports pretty much all my life, it wasn't hard for me to exercise and lift weights. I don't really like to cook, so I just want to grab-n-go. Getting home from work and preparing food to eat has become a lot easier for me now, but it was a struggle."
How life has changed: "My life has changed drastically since losing the weight," he says. "I am able to sit on an airplane comfortably. I can buy clothes from the store rather than having to order from online. I developed a taste for healthy food that I never thought possible and I became a better cook as a bonus … I can run for longer periods of time now and I plan on running in the Peachtree Road Race this summer. I did not get this big overnight, it took time. So when I started my weight-loss journey, I knew that it would be just that, a journey. I set goals that I knew were attainable and before I knew it I was 100 pounds down … Take that first step - that's the hardest part. I used to hate getting up at 5 a.m. to work out, now I get upset if I miss a workout. It is definitely a lifestyle change, you can't approach it like you're going on a diet because that is temporary."
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