Weight Loss Success

WEIGHT BEFORE 222

WEIGHT AFTER 148

VITALS Jesse Beatus, 29, Port Washington, NY

OCCUPATION Real estate analyst

HEIGHT 5'8"

REACHED HIS GOAL In 14 months

THE SETBACK
When I stopped rowing, my chubby side took over. I'd been on the crew team in college, but one morning my knee popped and I stopped doing cardio. After graduation, my body ballooned. At 26, I hit my heaviest. My back ached, my neck hurt, I had no energy, and my self-esteem was shattered. And gorging on Italian food, I couldn't believe the person I was turning into.

THE FOOD
I started by dialing back on portions, and then I swapped bad food for good food. I replaced pizza lunches with healthy wraps. I planned dinners around hearty salads. I dumped the soda and drank protein shakes (Try this awesome recipe!) and green tea. As I exercised, my weight dropped and I started gaining muscle.

THE FITNESS
It took me 5 months of doing an hour of cardio and weights each day to build the strength and energy to run 5 miles. I pushed myself on the bench and, eventually, at 148 pounds, I was benching 300—that's 40 pounds more than my 1-rep max back in college. Now I live for chest days packed with pullups. I've even worked a rowing machine into my routine.

THE REWARD
Last year I completed a grueling 12-mile obstacle event—and never quit. In fact, when I crossed the finish line pain-free, I figured I still had about 6 miles left in the tank. As a formerly heavy guy who could once barely walk, I couldn't have been more proud of all my hard work.

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