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Name: Paul Couch
Age: 59
Height: 5'11"
Before Weight: 295 pounds
How I Gained It: I gained the weight by eating pretty much anything I wanted and as much as I wanted to eat. I ate a lot of pasta and potatoes and bread. I grew up on those staples. I ate lots of desserts such as pie, cake, cookies. Pretty much anything I wanted to eat, I ate it.
Breaking Point: I knew I had gained some weight, but I had no idea just how much. I thought I would weigh about 240 or 250 pounds. When I stepped on the scale at my doctor's office, I weighed in at 295 pounds! I asked the nurse if the scale was right.
The first thing my doctor said was, "Paul, I'm very concerned about your weight." I told him I was too, and asked what I could do.
How I Lost It: My doctor told me that "diets" only work for a while, and then nearly everyone on a diet gains the weight back and more. He told me to cut my portions in half, no matter if it was "good" or "bad" food. He told me to cut out 95 percent of the fat in my food. And he told me to walk or swim every day. He told me the weight would come off slow and steady.
I knew I would not have a problem with the walking part, as I did not have a car, so I walked a lot. I still walk daily and enjoy the exercise because it is not hard on me, and I can enjoy nature that way as well.
I am down to 220 pounds, and I am still losing. I'd like to get to 185 pounds by the winter or spring. I am headed that way slowly, but I will get there! I have a lot of energy now that I did not have when I weighed almost 300 pounds!
Current Weight: 220 pounds
The Huffington Post publishes photographs as they are submitted to us by our readers.
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