Mark

Age: 46

Lost  76 pounds

Completed Program November 2006

I stepped on the scale and couldn’t believe how much weight I had gained. I was tired of buying “extended size” clothing, squeezing into an economy seat and asking for a seat belt extension every time I flew, taking blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medication, and feeling worn-out every time I did something physical. I knew I had to make some changes in my life. That’s when I joined 20/20 Lifestyles.

Being single and having two dogs, I didn’t have a lot of support at home. It was challenging to eat out and to not drink alcohol (I really missed pizza in Phase One), as well as to make time for all the workouts. But my friends were very supportive and encouraged me as they began to notice my weight loss. Even my coworkers began buying fruit for our Friday morning meetings, in addition to the Krispy Kremes. I was encouraged even further when I saw my blood pressure decrease rapidly, and my clothes became so loose that I had to buy smaller sizes.

I actually began to enjoy myself, biking along Lake Washington Boulevard to Seward Park or around Mercer Island and back, and walking the dogs on our four-mile loop down to Lake Washington and back up the hill. I recently took a friend who was visiting on our loop walk and he was beat afterwards. At the gym, I enjoyed getting onto the Elliptical as I got into the groove with my iPod Nano and read a magazine.

One of my goals is to ride the STP (Seattle to Portland 200-mile Bicycle Classic) and/or take a biking holiday in France, Italy or even Napa. Also, a friend wants me to walk across England with her sometime.

What kept me on track was not only seeing the progress I was making, but having other people notice as well. Recently I was out with some friends and ran into a couple I’d met at another friend’s house. I went up to say “hello” and one of them didn’t recognize me at all.