In 1987, I was a fit, 220-pound, single guy who ran 6 miles day, lifted weights, and taught aerobics three times a week. I met and fell in love with my wife, who wasn’t a fitness fanatic like me, and I started to decrease my activities and eat unhealthy foods. By the time we got married in July 1988, I was at 275 pounds. When our first son was born in September 1989, the scale reflected my weight at 350 pounds.

While it would be easy to blame my excess weight on my wife, it wasn’t her fault. I had fought this battle before and knew I was the one responsible. As I edged closer to 500 pounds, the time had come to do something. I had witnessed a friend of mine, Bonnie Voegeli, lose 30 pounds in three months on a doctor-assisted low-carb diet. (She is the Leader of my chapter, TOPS KS 0414 Valley Center.)

I followed up with her to learn about the diet she was following, and I began my marathon on December 23, 2008. That is how I view this journey—as a long, slow, marathon. In just two short weeks, at our January 6, 2009, meeting, I had lost several pounds. I then called and set up my first appointment with Dr. Jeannine Cobb.

I have gone from size 66 pants to a 40. This journey has had lots of milestones, but one of my favorites occurred in early August when I took four large trash bags of all my 3X and larger clothes to the Disabled American Veterans center because I am never going to need them again.

I have come to believe there are four very important parts of a successful weight-loss program. In order of importance they are:

1. Determination: You have to decide you are important enough to change your way of life to a healthy one. NO MORE EXCUSES!

2. Support: For me, it is family, friends, and, of course, TOPS! What can I say? It is the best support anyone could ever want or need.

3. Diet: For me it was the doctor-assisted low-carb diet and drinking 120 ounces of water per day.