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Patrick : Success Story
 
Patrick was in his cardiologist's office following a treadmill stress test on his heart when he had the sudden realization that he was 48 years old, obese, and in the worst physical shape of his life. "My options became very clear to me," says Patrick.
He wasn't able to get on the floor and play with his grandsons like he wanted to. Patrick would walk into a room and immediately look for a place to sit down. He had become more sedentary in all aspects of his life, and the thought of riding his bike (which he used to enjoy), was out of the question. He decided that even though he had spent his forties getting into this situation, and he wasn't going to spend his fifties continuing down the same path.
Patrick started his weight loss journey at 312 pounds and lost 47 pounds (before starting with SparkPeople) through a combination of diet and exercise. But eventually, he hit a weight loss plateau that lasted about ten months. During this period he continued to exercise but went back to some of his old eating patterns.
Patrick’s daughter, a SparkPeople member, introduced him to the program. He and his wife immediately organized their three children and significant others to start a weight loss journey as a family. They converted their garage into a home gym that the whole family used, complete with cardio and strength equipment, as well as a dry erase board to track workouts, post a challenge, or convey words of encouragement to each other. Together, Patrick and his family have lost a total of 210 pounds with SparkPeople.
"The strategy that was most significant to me was my commitment to do this for my wife, my children, my grandchildren and for myself. It had to be done," says Patrick.
The nutrition tracker became a huge part of Patrick's program. He says it not only allowed him to create a food diary, but it also taught him how he got to be 312 pounds in the first place. "Who would have guessed that five cups of vanilla ice cream with chocolate topping wasn’t a good thing to do?" he reflects.
The exercise tracker keeps Patrick focused on daily and weekly goals and the Resource Centers have provided a wealth of information about his physical and mental health. He says he's also met so many strong and wonderful people on the Message Boards with the same kinds of goals.
Patrick says that the improvements he's experienced are too numerous to list. In addition to the weight loss, he can now move more easily and play on the floor with his grandkids. He no longer looks for a place to sit down, but prefers to stand whenever he can. His blood pressure and cholesterol levels are down. He feels better, sleeps better and feels good about himself. "Oh, and remember my wanting to ride my bike again? I am now riding it to work, 50 miles roundtrip, and I feel GREAT!!" Patrick says.
His advice to someone just starting the program is to educate yourself abut what you eat and the ways you eat, using the information on SparkPeople as your guide. He believes that success comes from a combination of healthier (and smarter) eating and burning calories. Most importantly, Patrick says you have to really want it and do what it takes to get it.
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| Weight Before: |
265 lbs. |
| Weight After: |
195 lbs. |
Are you interested in being featured for your success? Tell your story on your SparkPage and other members can vote for you to become a " SparkPeople Motivator!"
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SparkPeople's 500-Calorie Thanksgiving Feast
