Belly Off! with Joe Lopez:  

Weight Before: 295
Weight After: 185
Vitals: Joe Lopez, 32, Morristown, NJ
Occupation: Teacher, Personal Trainer
Height: 5'9"
Reached Goal In: 2 years

THE SETBACK
In high school I played three sports—baseball, football, and basketball—and I was the only person in the history of my school to earn 12 varsity letters in three sports. But I started to gain weight after high school, and by the time I busted my elbow during my junior year of college, I'd packed on 40 pounds. Without sports in my life, I gained 40 more. I lost my energy and felt my strength declining. I started to wonder if I'd ever be an athlete again.

THE WAKE-UP CALL
I graduated from college with a degree in health science, earned my credentials to become a certified strength and conditioning specialist (C.S.C.S.), and began my personal-training career. But I could hear people thinking to themselves, This guy's my trainer? I'm in better shape than he is! After I saw an eye-opening photograph of myself at a wedding, I started thinking that too. Who in his right mind would ever hire a fat personal trainer?

THE FOOD
To slim down, I started scheduling six small meals throughout the day and tracking calories with a smartphone app. With my workouts, I needed to raise my protein intake and avoid empty carbs. So instead of hitting some pub's wing night, I marinated chicken wings and grilled them at home. I'd boost the protein and creaminess of my morning eggs by scrambling in some Greek yogurt. The more control I took over my eating, the less temptation I felt to binge on the bad stuff. (Enjoy cheaper, tastier, protein-packed meals from morning to night with The Healthiest Egg Recipes Ever.) 

THE FITNESS
I had kept up with weight training over the years, but my cardio had slipped. So on top of my 2 or 3 gym days, I'd plan two or three runs a week. I started out slowly—just a mile at first. I eventually worked my way to 5 or 6 miles on weekends, running trails with my dog. I even ran a marathon. To mix it up, I now join pickup basketball games, take a spin class, and do yoga. And I've started a fitness blog where I can post goals.

THE REWARD
When I was heavier, I was too embarrassed to promote myself as a trainer. I just sat there and waited for people to walk in the gym door. Now I feel like an athlete again. I have confidence—enough that I can pass some along to my clients. (Discover the #1 secret to feeling younger, fitter, and more confident with The Lean Belly Prescription!) 

Blog Away Your Belly

Follow Lopez's lead, says Craig Ballantyne, C.T.T., C.S.C.S., owner of TurbulenceTraining.com. "I'm less likely to make a bad decision if I know I'll be sharing my nutrition with the world." Try a free blogging platform, like WordPress or Posterous. The effort will keep you honest and let friends track your progress online.

Post photos, watch videos, track your progress, and lose weight with our 8-week Belly Off! program. 

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