Fitness Files: For health, he relies on faith and hard work

Running in circles around the high school track, I’ve often called out “Hi, Ryan” to Ryan O’Donnell, a friend’s son.

Marking the field for a football game, Ryan would return my greeting with a sidelong glance, a smile and — in barely more than a whisper — a “Hello.”

A mountain of a man, who stands nearly 6 feet 5 and weighed 500 pounds, he worked with concentration, serious about his responsibility as equipment manager for a school serving more than 1,000 student-athletes.

Daily Pilot readers may know O’Donnell as the recipient of Newport Harbor High School students’ standing ovation in September, when he collected his award for classified employee of the year. Steve Virgen, sports editor of the Daily Pilot, Huntington Beach Independent and Coastline Pilot, wrote that he is a kind man who loves the high school and its football program and makes everyone there feel special, helping with anything from broken equipment to a puzzling information-technology problem.

O’Donnell still puts in extra hours at Newport Harbor High. Staff and students continue to depend on the man of few words, but things have changed in a big way.

O’Donnell is 160 lighter today.

Last Sunday afternoon, he and I sat in the downstairs den of his parents’ homey castle. The man who used to answer me in a word, spoke in succinct paragraphs about weight loss and life change. He still speaks softly. His handsome features, more visible with weight loss, are quietly expressive as he emphasizes a point.

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How’d you lose the weight, Ryan?

“I stopped eating sugary, salty snacks. I used to go back for seconds — maybe thirds. Now one plate’s enough. I eat mostly salads, fresh fruit and vegetables, stay away from carbohydrates. I eat only small portions of meat every three days or so — rarely beef, occasionally chicken and fish.

You just decided one day?

“I started reading the Bible, made a strong spiritual connection. This is how I got the determination to make a change. Something needed to happen, and my faith helped me hang on to new habits.

“I knew I had to change, had warnings. I was out of breath just walking around, and sometimes my heart beat too quickly. The pounding heart hasn’t happened once since I lost weight. [He smiled.] Best part of all.”

Do you think people react to you differently now?

“Before, people thought I was not really there. Now I’m more willing to go out of my way to help. People appreciate that I can move faster, so I can do more.

“I got to the point where I wasn’t moving fast enough to do all I wanted to get done. Now, I can better serve the kids and coaches.”

You’d think I’d ask about exercise first, but that didn’t even occur to me until now. Has it played a part in your weight loss?

“I work in maintenance — picking things up, moving things, marking a field, helping set up events. My job is exercise.”

What advice would you give other people who might want to take off pounds?

“When you first start, it’s not that easy. You won’t get results overnight. Takes endurance. Weight doesn’t disappear, not even in a week. It’s month by month that success starts to show. You can get through it if you have a burning desire.”

What does your future hold?

“I’m 350 pounds now. I’d like to take off another 90 pounds. In the past, I stayed closer to home. I have no sight in my left eye. I don’t drive. But now I know that won’t stand in my way. If I put my mind to getting out, I’ll do it.”

What’s going to help you keep weight off in coming years?

“Of course my faith and my work. If I’m out working, moving around, I’m not thinking about food. Sometimes I have a protein shake for lunch and back to the job. At work I’m never bored.

“After work, in the past, I kept to myself, felt bored and reached for the snacks or called restaurant delivery. Now I’d rather be around people, like downstairs watching a game with my family. It was fun to overeat, but it’s more fun to be healthy and happy.”

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Newport Beach resident CARRIE LUGER SLAYBACK is a retired teacher who, since turning 70, has run the Los Angeles Marathon and the Carlsbad Marathon.