Former weight: 300 pounds
Current weight: 195 pounds
Pounds lost: 105
Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Age: 40
How long he's kept it off: Four months. He began in April 2009 and met his goal in July.
Personal life: "I currently live in Alpharetta, Ga., with my wife of 16 years, Gloria, and my daughters, Gloria Elizabeth, 5, and Juliana, 4," said Vega. "I am a software engineer, and I work for a financial services company."
Turning point: "My success story began in April of 2009," he said. "I was over 300 pounds. I am not completely sure how much, as I was afraid of stepping on the scale. ... My mother had passed away two years previous from a sudden heart attack after years of cholesterol and blood pressure problems. ... On my mother's side of the family, there was a history of type 2 diabetes and other cardiac issues. I knew that if I didn't do something soon, I was at a high risk for an early grave. I thought of not seeing my daughters. ... I decided that I would meet my 40th year on this Earth at a respectable weight, and more importantly in good health."
Diet plan: Breakfast is two eggs, lean protein and an English muffin. Lunch is fish or chicken with a salad, and dinner is a salad, lean protein, whole grain, such as brown rice, and yogurt with fruit for dessert.
Exercise routine: "I am in the gym three days a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday," he said.
Biggest challenge: "My biggest challenge was being diligent about portion control," he said. "I now have learned that bigger isn't necessarily better. I am much more conscious of my choices when I go out to eat, and even tend to share an entree rather than eat the whole thing myself."
How life has changed: "I have dropped my body fat percentage from over 33 percent to 15 percent," he said. "I achieved my goal of being below 200 pounds on June 28, so it took a little over a year, but I did manage it before my 40th birthday in August of this year. The biggest change in my life is that my friends and acquaintances now look to me as an inspiration to better their own exercise and eating habits."
Be an inspiration: If you've made positive changes in your diet and/or fitness routine and are happy with the results, please share your success with us. Include your e-mail address, a daytime phone number and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG). Write: Success Stories, c/o Holly Steel, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or e-mail ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
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