Name: Mario
Age: 31
Family Status: Single
Occupation: Construction worker
Location: Chicago
Height: 6’3″
Waist: 42″
Starting Weight: 460 pounds
Current Weight: 260 pounds
Pounds or Inches Lost: I lost 200 pounds and quit smoking cold turkey in 2010!
Contact: [email protected]
Mario’s Weight Loss Story!
When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I was always unhappy with my weight, but it really hit me the hardest when I weighed myself on a large scale and saw that I was up to 400 pounds.
What made you decide to lose weight?
3 different occurrences of heart attack symptoms within a 2 week span woke me up in the middle of the night, the third of which that was so bad it woke me up and then knocked me unconscious.
What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
Strict diet, exercising regularly, and changing the way I thought about, and looked at fitness and life.
What was most challenging about losing weight?
Changing my eating habits, staying strict, and not overeating or eating bad foods anymore.
How long did it take you to start to see results?
I saw results within the first month.
How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
3 and a half years.
How long have you maintained your weight loss and how do you do it?
I’ve maintained my current weight for 6 months, and I do it by sticking to a solid eating plan and working out regularly.
What keeps you motivated to continue your weight loss success?
Never being afraid to die because of my bad habits again, and also, the fact that people are now inspired by me.
How has your life changed now that you’ve lost weight?
It has changed dramatically. I’m one test away from being a certified personal trainer. I feel and look completely different. I appreciate things so much more than I did back then. I know how to control myself, and I’m also beginning to help others who struggle learn to do the same. The positive changes this lifestyle has brought me are unbelievable.
Do you have any advice for others who are trying to lose weight?
Know yourself, know what works for you, be patient, don’t lie to yourself, don’t be afraid to be inspired, and understand that this is a long-term process, and the best results are going to be seen through hard work and building new routines, not quick-fixes.
How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
I love ShapeFit.com! It’s really cool and easy to follow.
Mario’s Weight Loss Tips!
Weight loss tip #1:
Know yourself.
Weight loss tip #2:
Be patient.
Weight loss tip #3:
Don’t lie to yourself.
Weight loss tip #4:
Be obsessed.
Weight loss tip #5:
Be comfortable and enjoy the process.
Mario’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!
Breakfast:
Almost every morning I start off with toast, oatmeal, and a banana.
Lunch:
Usually some kind of protein, either chicken or turkey, and it’s usually a sandwich. I’ll also have baked chips, and a vegetable like carrots, or an apple.
Dinner:
A similar variation of lunch, only I’ll eat a smaller portion because I don’t like to eat big meals too late.
Snacks or Mini Meals:
Granola bars, almonds, fruits, carrots, and yogurt. I especially LOVE apples.
Nutritional Supplements:
I don’t take any supplements.
Mario’s Weight Loss Workouts!
Weight Training:
Right now I do a plank/pushup combo every morning to get myself started. Then later at the gym I’ll work on whatever muscle group is designated for that day.
Cardiovascular:
Every workout I start with 5-10 minutes of elliptical, followed by a 5 minute stretch, then 25 minutes of power walking/running on the treadmill. Every Friday night I play 2 hours of basketball as well.
