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I Lost It: 'Lifestyle Change Is Forever'

Photos from JOSEPH SCHWEIGER

Joseph Schweiger had high blood pressure and was on the verge of being diabetic.

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@tampatrib.com

Published: February 25, 2009

Joesph Schweiger, 65, Lake Placid

Height: 6-foot-4

Starting weight: 367

Current weight: 251

Why I did it: I read a lot of stories about someone's weight loss and I see they have determination, which is good.

For myself, I started out at 367 pounds. I had high blood pressure, was on the verge of being diabetic and my cholesterol ran real high. So many times you hear the phrase "I decide to change my lifestyle" and then one day, it is true. I decided to change my lifestyle, which was the first step. You can't call it a diet. It's a commitment to change your lifestyle.

How I did it: First, I had to eliminate sugar in my life. That was easy because my wife is a diabetic, so it was easy for both of us to do it. Here is something you readers should try: Stop all soda intake for 30 days, then try some diet or regular soda. You may vomit when your find out how bad it tastes.

So getting back to me, I started out walking a block or two and then increased to two miles. That increased to six miles, six days a week, which takes me two hours.

Then I incorporated a total gym workout, for 30 minutes a day, six days a week. I also work out two of these days at a rehabilitation center for an hour and a half. On good weather days, I exercise at our retirement community pool for an hour.

This was a two-and-a-half-year process and commitment. It was not easy.

I had some plateaus that lasted five months. I got depressed and spent some time dealing with that, but I still stuck with it. I had a goal and refused to quit.

During this time, I also dealt with knee-replacement surgery, and I still kept with it. That's why you must maintain your determination to lose the weight.

Hurdles: I lost so much of my gut. I really need to get rid of the loose skin hanging in front of my gut, but I can't afford it, so I just keep on exercising. Hopefully, I can tighten this up. My doctor says it will take a lot of work, but I may just get rid of most of it.

When you say diet, you are looking at a short-term word. Lifestyle change is forever. Stick to it and it will happen.

Going the distance: I started out at 367 pounds, and most recently I've reached 251. And I'm still counting. I refuse to quit exercising. I feel good and I don't get sick. Right now I've got a spur (arthritis) in my foot. Hopefully, with the shot I got in the foot and the medication to treat it, it won't slow me down.

Best advice: Every time you plateau, increase your exercise or fine-tune your food intake for a while. That's because you can't eat like a pig. Also, exercise and you can expect to lose weight in proportion.

Everybody likes a little inspiration. 4you is looking for new contributors to our popular "I Lost It" series, which chronicles successful stories of weight loss from residents living across the Tampa Bay area. Every week, we feature a single story from a

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