My journey started the day I was born. I was one of those people who would battle my size. I was always the big kid. I hit 200 lbs in the 8th grade. I had always been active in athletics, wrestling and lacrosse. My weight always trumped my activity level. My father was a big advocate of running to stay in shape. Something which he himself battled. I would run before school, but I sure didn't enjoy it. High school was pretty consistent, a little more weight crept up each year. After high school I considered the military, also my first large loss of weight. I hit the gym with my buddies hard and ate next to nothing palatable, but the weight came off fast. The military program I had worked so hard for never materalized so I went to commercial diving school in Texas . Slowly the weight came back until I was right back where I started.

     I was comfortable with my size and always felt I could carry my own weight. I was in my twenties and no real health problems appeared, but with diabetes and heart disease running in my family, they would have to rear their head at some point. A less than successful short first marriage added those few extra pounds. I tried jogging to find that was not the solution. Some of my favorite foods would have been fine, but I had a moderation and activity combination which did not jive. Now a couple of years later I was in a new marriage, happy and in my thirties. About that time I started to hear from my family about my weight and how I should consider a gastric bypass or try a diet. I was being called "Big Jon" and I was not having any part of it! At my largest I was 6 foot tall and weighed 355 lbs.and a size 50 pants.
 
     My career began to grow in a new direction and along the way IT HAPPENED! There had always been weight loss contests with the fellas at work. I never really got too involved. I was a focused man! As a professional I would try to work harder, longer and smarter. Personally I gave the most I could to my family, but I ignored myself. It was the one area I put no effort into. Maybe I didn't care or was in denial. I was fat and happy or was I? 
    
     At the office a co-worker had been very tuned into the latest meal replacements and diet programs. I think he probably offered me different programs, and I never took interest. William was very knowledgeable about this meal replacement stuff, finally I listened and it sounded like something I could do. No scales, no measuring, no counting, just drink a shake 5 times a day and eat a reasonable dinner. Sounded easy to do.

     I ordered my first box of shakes which came in lots of tasty flavors. I told my wife Christina what I had ordered and to look out for it. I started the shakes and within 2 weeks I had lost some weight and my clothes were fitting looser, but I did not get on a scale. I did not want to get caught up in the numbers, but wanted to see how I felt. That was easy and I still had not changed my dinner habits too much. It took a couple of weeks, but I stuck to it and had noticed a consistent loss of weight at about 2-3 pounds per week. I am sure the first 50 came off easy because I cut out all my bacon egg bagels breakfast sandwiches with a donut and extra large coffee. Lunch went as easy. Not everyone was as encouraging as I would have hoped.

     Folks who knew me would say they had seen me loose weight before, but "he'll gain it all back and then some." My wife was very encouraging, she loved me at any size but had expressed that she wanted me to be healthy and to be there with her when we were old. One of the things I incorporated in my regimen was to not miss out on birthdays and family events. There is a piece of birthday cake with my name on it and I was going to enjoy it. But I stayed on track so I could enjoy those events.

     At the one year mark I had lost about 50 lbs. I was so pumped to have gotten this far. I was never a big fan of going to the gym decided I had always liked mountain biking, and tried to incorporate this as my first real workout. I bought a great bike and got going! Being lighter really help me push my weight around and go further. I would ride the trails in Reston, Va which was close to my office. There were lots of trails to choose from depending on the difficulty level. I rode 2-3 times a week and that is what pushed me to loose the next 50 pounds. And most of all I was not going to the gym and really had fun. 

     My wardrobe had been replaced more then once by now. I believe for me the biking opened the door to running. A broken collar bone made me walk through the door! I was out mountain biking and trying to "catch some big air" and the next thing I knew I had been knocked out and when I tried to get up and dust off, I had broken my collarbone.

     Weeks of pain lead me to think about how was I going to burn calories and keep active. I had lost 100 and needed to continue. That is when I thought running was the only way. With limited movement in my shoulder, I tried a couple of miles with no problem. It was much easier than I had thought! I guess it just went from there to how I run today. If I had started with running, I would have had no endurance. The biking made running seem easier. Starting the third year I stuck with the biking, running and swimming. Now I look back and when my wife Christina pulls out old pictures, I really have to pause and look at myself. Some time I just can't imagine how big I was.

     I lost 155 pounds in just over 3 1/2 years. I continue to swim, bike and run. I participate in several racing events each year as a way to stay active and set goals for myself. This keeps my healthy lifestyle and allows me to be around others trying to do the same. I am in the best shape I have ever been in!  During this transformation I have realized how many folks are just like me, they want to be healthy and loose weight.  
    
Be strong, stay focused, and keep your feet moving !

Have a question or need words of encouragement? 
email me jhinkle00@gmail.com