To Lose the Weight, He Did It His Way

I’m not much of an essay writer, but I did want to respond to your invitation in the paper.

The lead statement that “losing weight is as individual as gaining weight” really caught my eye. I believe that for people to be successful at losing weight, they need to be honest with themselves and design their own programs. I was always unable to do what others told me to do. I became successful when I did it for myself.

Late in 1995, I came to a point in my life where I decided to do something about my morbid obesity and food addiction. I can’t point to one specific thing that led to my decision. It was more a culmination of many different life events and conditions. I had been obese off and on since I was 19. I had tried many of the so-called fad diets and even had some professional in-patient treatment for an eating disorder. None of those programs worked for me.

On Jan. 1, 1996, at 40 years of age, I committed myself to changing my eating habits and beginning to exercise. By Jan. 2, 1997, I had lost 171 pounds, lowered my blood pressure from 166 / 120 to 104 / 64. My sitting pulse has decreased from over 100 to the mid-50s, and my cholesterol is now in the 130s. My chronic bronchitis and asthma have both disappeared.

I followed no one’s specific plan, had no surgery, used no drugs or miracle pills. I do not belong to any group or agency that promotes diet and/or weight loss. I have done this completely on my own by very simply eliminating foods from my diet that have caused me to gain and regain weight over my life.

I wrote down a list of foods that I would no longer eat and I’ve stuck to it. On my list: pizza, potatoes, rice, sandwiches, ice cream, chocolate, Italian food, Mexican food, macaroni and cheese, and bread.

To enhance my overall physical conditioning, I did 20 minutes of aerobic exercise on a stationary bike four times a week.

That’s it.

I’ve now maintained my new body weight for eight months. It’s easy because nothing changed once I lost the weight. I just don’t eat any of the bad foods.

I’ve lost weight before, but never had the feeling of cautious optimism I now have about my ability to remain thin for the rest of my life.

I am enclosing some before and after pictures. It is interesting to note that I had my wife take the “before” picture on Jan. 1, 1996, knowing that I was going to make a life change. I’m glad I did.

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Vital Statistics

Name: Kenneth G. Adams

Age: 42

Occupation: Claims examiner

Old weight: 357

New weight: 175

Time to get there: 12 months

Want to Share Your Success Story?

Losing weight is as individual as gaining weight. Do you have a story on how you got in shape and stayed there? If so, we’d like to hear from you with a 500-word essay listing what worked in terms of diet, exercise, encouragement / support, as well as your emotional and physical changes.

We’d also like you to send us full-body color photos of you, before and after.

Send essay and photos to “How I Did It,” Health, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, and include daytime and evening phone numbers. No phone calls, please. Submissions cannot be returned.

In addition to publication, winners will receive a Los Angeles Times gym bag and a gift certificate for a free pair of athletic shoes of your choice, redeemable at any Big 5 Sporting Goods store.