179lbs lost in one year - with pics

What a difference a year makes! Last March 9th, my wife and I made the decision to join a gym a get healthy. It was probably a life saving decision. At that time, I weighed a staggering 471 pounds. Now, I am 6'5" and have a large frame, but I was deluded into believing that I just need a "little" bit of work and I would look great. My body, however, was telling a different story. At 36 years old, I was getting chest pains on an almost daily basis, I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without getting extremely winded, and I didn't have the energy to play with my three boys - ages 5, 3, and 2. Something needed to change before it was too late. We decided that if we were going to do this, we had to do it as a family, and support each other 100%, or else it would not work. I was not prepared for the level of support that I received from my family and friends. Literally everyone I talked to about getting healthy and becoming fit pitched in to help me and accomodate my needs on my journey. My wife was alongside me the entire time, and has lost close to 60 pounds herself. Both of my brothers and my father have trained with me, and my older brother and I have run a half marathon together. I have been truly blessed by their support. Currently, I am training for the New Jersey Marathon on May 6th, and I have long runs up to 16 miles so far in preparation, but it all began with a 30 minute walk exactly one year ago. Every day I pushed myself a little bit more, and made sure I made good food decisions. I started around 2100 calories a day, and gradually increased my calories as my activity level increased. Never once did I go hungry or feel deprived of food. It was simply a matter of making the right choice when it came to calories. I would just like to tell everyone out there who are just beginning on their journey, or who are struggling and don't think they can do it, that it is possible. You just have to believe, and want it badly enough, and most importantly, show up every day to fight the battle. You may not win the fight every day, but if you keep coming back to try, it will happen. Below are some pictures of me from a year ago and today:

















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