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Matt (Justify73) : Success Story
 
Matt lacked enough energy to spend time with his family. "I'd lie in bed, wake up tired, and stay in bed until the last possible minute, usually getting to work late. When I came home, I felt unproductive and tired as soon as I walked through the door," he says. He wasn't able to keep up with friends and co-workers during pickup football and basketball games anymore.
Matt was also experiencing joint pain and chest discomfort due to his excess weight, so he visited his doctor for a checkup. He found out that because of his weight and lifestyle, his heart rate was rapid and his "good" cholesterol levels were too low. His doctor told him that he needed to lose at least 10 pounds.
Starting the SparkPeople program was actually his wife's idea, so they decided to do it together. Matt says it was much easier to be good when he was being good with someone else. His wife lost 14 pounds on the program, and he believes that their weight loss helped them to conceive their second child (since excess weight can interfere with fertility). They had been trying for over a year with no luck, but after they both lost weight, it finally happened!
Matt began by counting calories every day and weighing everything he ate. He also told everyone about SparkPeople, making his goals known to others. "By making myself accountable, I was more inclined to keep counting calories, measuring portions, and producing results," says Matt. Recently, Matt started a regular exercise program that includes both cardio and strength training.
Bad habits? Matt says he was the king of them. He was a late-night snacker, and says it wasn't uncommon for him to finish off a bag of chips while watching a baseball game before bed. "I still am a salty-snack fiend, but I’ve found ways to incorporate them modestly into my nutritional program, because I don't think I could ever quit cold turkey. But that's the name of the game anyway…moderation," he says.
Matt says that the motivation he found in the articles and on the Message Boards was invaluable. He also relied heavily on the food database and nutrition tracker. With access to an easy resource to track his intake at work, home, or on the road, he had no excuses not to log what he ate. A co-worker who sits across from him also joined the site, and now he has someone right next to him at work to help him stay focused and reach his goals every day.
Even more important than the physical changes (losing 44 pounds and about 10% body fat), Matt's attitude towards nutrition and exercise has completely turned around. He wakes up early, hops out of bed, is alert, and can't wait to do his cardio and weight training. His performance at work has increased, he gets more done at home, and his friends are commenting on how drastic his results have been.
Matt's advice to new members is that the best things in life are worth waiting for and sometimes, these things take time to achieve. More important than how quickly you can lose the weight are the life changes you can achieve. He believes that even beyond weight loss, you can realize tremendous changes in your life by using this program. "It's incredible how well you can project confidence when you feel physically fit, mentally sharp, rested, and focused. Those are qualities I never fully achieved before SparkPeople, and they all stem from initiating consistency in my life."
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| Weight Before: |
235 lbs. |
| Weight After: |
191 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
