My Weight Loss Journey
By Mark Hopkins
Roll your mouse over the photo to see before and after photos.
I was looking at some old pictures back in February and knew it
was time to get my life back. First, I had to face the fact that I was 30 years old and weighed in at 310 pounds. At age 20, I weighed only 200. The weight started to go on slowly and before I knew it, it was way out of control. I had tried diets in the past that only lasted a couple of weeks and then I would go back to the same thing I’d been doing. This time around, I had to do it for myself so that I could be around for a long time with my wife and children.
Where was I going to start? It was not a diet I was looking for but a lifestyle change. I was lucky enough to have some great support…my wife, as well as some of my co-workers were also starting their own weight loss journey. I didn’t want to do “gimmicks” to lose weight, just to put it back on again. Taking a pill or drinking a shake was not going to get me into shape.
It was time to pick a date to start and I began on March 1, 2002. I weighed @310 pounds and my goal was to get to 200. I looked at what I was eating and completely changed it. No more fast food, no more soda. I switched to water, fruits, chicken, and in general, more healthy food. Next, I joined the Fitness barn.
I made a commitment to go to the gym everyday before work, even the days when I didn’t want to get out of bed at 4:30 am. The next thing was to realize that the weight wasn’t going to come off in two weeks and I had to be patient. Once I got it off, I wanted it to stay off. After all, it isn’t just a diet, but a lifestyle change.
Today, September 18, 2002, I hit my goal. I have lost 110 pounds in just under seven months. It took a lot of will power and a strong resolve to eat healthier and commit to the exercise portion of it. I reap the rewards of my new life everyday. If I can do it, for those of you wondering if you can too, believe me, you can do anything you set your mind to.
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