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New state of mind - weight-reducing program of computer programmer Jay Allen

Men's Fitness, Oct, 1998

An embarrassing outdoor excursion in rural New York inspired this man to lose 70 pounds

Few places are as breathtaking as upstate New York in autumn. I love living up here, and I was even more thrilled at the prospect of a few days enjoying the local scenery on a company-sponsored Outward Bound trip a couple of years ago. The setting was gorgeous, and the accommodations were deluxe - swanky hotel, gourmet food. I was looking forward to taking part in all the outdoor fun when an instructor quietly pulled me aside.

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"I'm afraid you won't be able to participate in the activities this week," she told me. "For medical reasons." Over dinner, the trip coordinator spelled it out: I was obese and, therefore, a health risk to the organization. Evidently, the thought of having an overweight computer programmer clutching his chest and falling off a rope didn't appeal to the folks in the Outward Bound legal department.

And the more I thought about it, the less it appealed to me. When I got home, I looked the bitter truth in the eye. I weighed about 240, and my "bad" cholesterol count was over 240. I'd been overweight through most of my childhood, and settling into a desk-centered job only compounded the problem. Of course, my eating habits didn't help, either. Wolfing down most of a large pizza was routine for me, and I considered ice cream a staple. Even on the Outward Bound excursion, I'd gone nuts at the breakfast buffet each morning, and at dinner, I'd follow roast beef and onion rings with a cheesecake chaser. I had little energy - I craved afternoon naps just about every day - and even less reason to think things would improve any time soon.

Having endured the shame of countless failed diets in the past, I took a good look at what I'd need to do differently this time around. I realized that the problem wasn't inside me, but in the solutions I'd chosen: gimmicky diets with bird-size portions and hopelessly impossible exercise demands.

So instead of being trendy, I got smart. For starters, I cut back to 2,000 calories a day - 500 at breakfast, 500 at lunch and 1,000 at dinner. The plan allowed me to indulge a bit at dinner if I chose, and that helped quell feelings of deprivation. While I didn't totally eliminate my favorite fatty foods, like veal parmesan, I cut way back, saving them for times when I really, really craved them and limiting my portions. Meanwhile, I began walking every morning for about 30 minutes, and I did a few sets of push-ups and crunches. After four weeks, I had shed 10 pounds.

Encouraged by the progress, I continued to work on my eating. I slashed my fat intake further and sought out lean protein sources. In addition, I scaled back the indulgent dinners, spreading my eating more evenly throughout the day. I steadily lost about three or four pounds a week, and when I got down to around 200, friends and co-workers began to take notice.

Cardio and weight training also made a difference. I gradually improved my cardio endurance until I could run for 45 minutes to an hour. And three days a week, I'd lift free weights for about a half-hour. By February 1997, I was down to about 180 pounds - just in time for my newborn daughter to see her svelte daddy.

In the time since, I've continued working hard to fine-tune my physique. I work out at the YMCA three or four times a week for about 45 minutes; I do arms, shoulders and back two days, and chest, abs and legs the other two days. Sometimes I marvel at how tight my body feels (it's like walking on air), and how much energy I have (my penchant for naps has all but vanished). Appearance-wise, I still have some goals: I'd like to build up my chest a little bit, and I'd like to get my body fat under 10 percent (it's currently 11 or 12 percent).

Overall, though, I've never felt better. I enjoy playing sports with friends and swimming in nearby Lake Ontario, and I like to spend time with my wife and kids. And I think my perspective will keep me On the right path. I don't fret over the numbers of a diet, and I'm not afraid to let loose every now and then. I like what I've got, I want to keep it, and I want to see how far I can go.

Jay Allen Rochester, NY

Age: 25

Height: 6[feet]

Weight Before: 240 lbs.

Present: 170 lbs.

Waist Before: 38[inches]

After: 31[inches]

TRAINING

Runs for 45 minutes three days a week. In the gym, works arms, shoulders and back twice a week; works chest, abs and legs twice a week.

New state of mind - weight-reducing program of computer programmer Jay Allen

Men's Fitness, Oct, 1998

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