Southern man: Paul Perry takes account of himself and sheds an amazing 140 pounds in seven months - Success Story

Living in Mississippi, the state with the highest obesity rate in the nation, I could have conveniently blamed my lifelong weight problem on my environment-which I managed to do for a while. But there finally came a time when I decided I would take responsibility for myself and acknowledge that the only way to make a change was to take action.

I had been overweight for most of my life, regularly tipping the scales at nearly 290 pounds. I couldn't blame my problems on genetics--both my brothers were in much better condition than I was. My eating habits were awful, my exercise habits nonexistent. I didn't think things could get worse. But by the time I turned 40, they had.

A BEACHED WHALE

In December 2000, a trip to the doctor for my annual physical told me just how low--or in this case, high--things had gotten. High as in 354 pounds--a beached whale. A couple of days later, I received news that my cholesterol levels were off the charts. Coupled with the urgings of those close to me, the test results served as motivation to make a change. I went to a local bookstore and picked up a couple of books on weight loss and a copy of MEN'S FITNESS. I joined a gym and sought the assistance of a personal trainer.

For the first month, my exercise routine consisted of 50 minutes of light cardio a day, seven days a week. I overhauled my diet, which had been devoted to fried chicken, pork chops, ice cream and other fat-laden Southern foods. I stopped skipping breakfast and started eating six small meals a day, each containing a low-fat, high-protein food--such as salmon, mahi mahi or chicken--and carbohydrates with low glycemic indexes (oatmeal, baked sweet potatoes, black beans, etc.).

LOSING A FAST 50

It worked. By the end of that first month, I had lost nearly 50 pounds. In February, I started using weight machines three days a week, in addition to maintaining my cardio routine, and dropped down to 285. I added free weights in March, and over the next three months took off 17, 16 and eight pounds, respectively, to slim down to 227 by the start of summer. Finally, by July, I was down to my target weight of 212 pounds.

It took a lot of time, as well as a lot of hard work and dedication. But looking at the progress I made over those first seven months, I can't believe how far I had let myself go. Today I keep my weight around 212 pounds. My diet is basically the same as when I started the program. The cravings I used to get are virtually nonexistent now. Of course, I generally give myself a cheat day once a week to stay sane. But the way I look and feel now, I know I'll never again be where--and what--I was.

PAUL PERRY

* Home: Clinton, MS
* Age: 42
* Height: 6'3"
* Weight before: 354 pounds
* Present: 212 pounds
* Waist before: 52"
* Present: 32"
* Training: Weight-trains four
  days per week, does cardio
  three days a week.

MOTIVATION TIP

"Use a workout partner, somebody you have to call and let know if you're not going to show up. It's almost more effort to get out of working out than it is to go in and do it."--Paul Perry

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