Diet & Fitness: Weight Loss: Weight-Loss Success Stories:

 John Z.

 I was suffering from high blood pressure, heart palpitations and back spasms. Due to my hectic business schedule that required me to travel on a regular basis, I began to make unhealthy food choices and gained weight. My weight eventually reached 368 pounds.

 My heart palpitations kept me from getting the sleep I needed to have energy for my job and family. I feared having a heart attack, so I went to see my doctor and was told that the only way to lose weight and keep it off was to have gastric bypass surgery. I refused to have surgery because I knew I could lose the weight naturally.

 I did some research and found a diet plan that could work with my busy schedule. The plan consisted of five pre-packaged meals per day and one “lean and green” meal, which I used during business lunches and dinners, so it wouldn’t be obvious to colleagues and clients that I was dieting. I was surprised to find that that the diet was very simple and allowed me to have the flexibility I needed with my on-the-go lifestyle. I lost 20 pounds in the first month and eventually dropped from a suit size 54L to a 44L.

 I have lost more than 165 pounds and am down to a 34-inch waist. Every medical problem I had last year has virtually disappeared due to my lifestyle change. Now I get the sleep I need to keep up with my job and family. I feel as if I have been given another chance at life and am glad that I could make this change without having to resort to surgery.

 I am very motivated to maintain my weight loss, so not many things have derailed me thus far. Of course, I have cravings for certain high calorie foods, but I consume them in moderation and/or increase my exercise to compensate for the extra calories.

 I weigh myself weekly, so as not to get discouraged by daily fluctuations in weight. If I weigh more than five pounds over my goal weight, I get back on the Medifast 5-plus-1 program until I am back down to my goal weight.

 I won a national contest for a weight-loss program. I was flown to Baltimore, Md., and treated to a shopping spree and spa makeover. We did a TV and photo shoot. It was a very profound moment for me because it validated the steps I have made to improve myself and gave me the opportunity to talk to people who had similar experiences with weight gain and loss. Next: John Y. Lost 80 Pounds!