Dan Harry – 2010 Healthy Lifestyle Challenge (Final Interviews)

8/3/10 Posted in News  |  1 Comment

The 2010 Healthy Lifestyle Challenge was announce in the January Issue of Healthy & Fit Magazine. Since then, we have followed our two contestants on their six-month-long journey to a healthier lifestyle. Each participant was placed in the care of local personal trainers and dieticians who were paramount to achieving their health and fitness goals.

We asked our contestants to reflect on the entire experience and offer some advice to people looking to start a health and fitness challenge of their own.

Dan Harry

Age: 38 Home: Lansing Occupation: Accountant

Starting Weight: 370.2 pounds Ending Weight: 269 pounds (Loss of 101.2 pounds)

Total % of weight lost: 27.3%

Starting Measurements: Ribs: 58” Waist 62.25” Hips: 53.5”

Ending Measurements: Ribs: 46” Waist: 49” Hips: 44.5”

Total Inches Lost: 34.5

What do you feel has been the biggest challenge in the process? My challenges have been having enough time and not giving up when I hit a plateau.  One of the reasons I put off getting healthier for so long was finding the time to do it.  I’m so busy with work and family that I used to put off taking care of my health.  Now I know that I have to make time to take care of my health for the benefit of my myself and family.  I incorporate it into everything I do.  In the past when I hit a plateau in losing weight, I would get frustrated and give up.  I’ve realized that a plateau is only temporary and I need to persevere and work past it.  Sometimes it means making a change in what and how I’m eating and/or a change in my workouts.  Eventually though I break through the plateau.

What did you find easiest about the challenge? It has been easy for me to stay motivated.  I’ve gotten to the point where I won’t allow myself to relapse into my bad habits.  The success I’ve had encourages and motivates me to keep up my progress.  I’ve had enough of being unhealthy and overweight and not doing anything about it.

What did you have the most fun doing? I really enjoy the variety of the workouts.  My trainer, Mike, has been creative in coming up with different combinations of exercises to challenge me, keep from getting bored, and help me past my plateaus.  He thinks of exercises and combinations I would have never thought of doing on my own.   It has been fun to meet new people that have noticed how hard I was working and encourage me to continue my challenge.  I have made several friends at the gym and I enjoy being there and talking to them.  I really enjoy having to add a new notch to my belt as my waist gets smaller and the feeling of my clothes fitting looser and better.

To what do you credit your success? Melanie, my nutritionist, says I should credit myself for my success.  I have put in a lot of hard work and hours to get this far, but I also have to credit everyone that has helped me get here.  I credit Mike and Debbie, my trainers, and Melanie, my nutritionist, for being there to keep me accountable to them.  They took the time and effort to answer my questions and to meet and train with me while working around all of our busy schedules.  I credit Annie, my wife, for accommodating my workout schedules.  And I credit Aidan, my son, for being my biggest inspiration.

In what aspects has the challenge changed other parts of your life? I’m more comfortable about my appearance.  I have more energy to accomplish the tasks and projects I’ve put off until I had more stamina.  I’m becoming a better role model for my son, wife, family and friends.  I’m excited about being more actively involved in my son’s sports and other activities.  I’m more confident in myself because of what I’ve accomplished.  It has given me more confidence to accomplish other goals I have set for myself.

How do you plan on continuing your healthy lifestyle? This is just the beginning of a new way of living for me.  I’m about half way to my weight loss goal.  I will continue to make healthier food choices and learn more about nutrition and fitness.  I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface on a lifetime of learning.  I will continue to workout at the gym to meet my weight loss goal and then to maintain it.  I also want to focus on building some more muscle.  Next year I plan to train for and run my first of many 5K runs.

What can you do now that you couldn’t do before the challenge? On a recent vacation, I was able to buckle my airplane seatbelt without needing an extension belt.  I was also able to go on and enjoy a water slide repeatedly with my son.  I’m able to workout for an hour and not be exhausted and still want to do more if I had the time.  I’ve cut the time it takes me to run a mile or more on the elliptical machine by at least 30%.  I can climb 22 plus floors on the stair master.  I have more stamina and energy than I’ve had in years.  Everything has become more physically comfortable for me to do.

What advice do you have for others facing a lifestyle change in how to lose weight, eat healthier, etc.? Make it a priority.  Start now.  Don’t put it off.  Time is slipping away from you and you’re wasting time by not doing the things you want to be able to do.  Make the time in your schedule to become healthier.  It’ll never get easier or be more convenient.  You’ll not only benefit from it, but so will your family and friends.  You’ll feel better and be happier about being healthier and more active.  I look forward to exercising; and the feeling of accomplishment I get with seeing my progress is priceless.  I don’t feel good if I miss a workout or make unhealthy food choices.  Even if you’re limited in the amount of exercise you can do, change your eating habits.  Keep a food diary, and review it daily.  Learn about nutrition and eating healthy.  Read food labels and make healthy choices.  Eat less sugar, fat, and sodium.  Fresh and unprocessed foods are best.  It won’t happen overnight, but you will see improvement as you stick with it.  Don’t let an occasional fall off the healthy eating or exercise wagon derail you.  Get right back on track; don’t throw away what you’ve accomplished.  If you want or need the help of others to get you started or to continue, seek it, whether they’re professionals, family or friends.  Make this the beginning of the new you.  Only you can make it happen.  The more you want it, the easier it’ll be to stick with it.  I also encourage anyone to apply for this Health and Fit challenge.  It has been a wonderful experience for me.

How do you see the challenge benefiting you in the long-term? It has given me a new beginning.  It has opened my eyes to all the foods, exercises, resources and activities available to someone wanting to be healthier.  It has given me the opportunity to meet with and train with experts in their fields and use their knowledge to my benefit.  That knowledge will allow me to continue to make better choices about food and exercise for the rest of my life.  Being healthier and more active will continue to provide me more opportunities to enjoy activities I used to be to do and haven’t done in years and new activities I’ve always wanted to be able to do.  The results will add years to and happiness to my life.  Thank you Healthy & Fit for this opportunity.

Dietician: Melanie Shehan, MS, RD – Hayes Green Beach Hospital

“Dan and I have continued to work on making healthy choices, portion control, and balancing meals. Over the last month and throughout this entire challenge, Dan has done an excellent job at sticking with the plan and asking for help whenever he had questions.

Dan has changed his eating habits completely. He is more interested in health and wellness and has taken that information home for the rest of the family. Dan has more energy and is more confident. He still has even loftier goals in mind after the challenge ends, but his weight loss is beyond my expectations. Dan’s greatest accomplishment is his ability to stay on the plan and keep motivated.

Many people believe that eating healthy is an “all or nothing” idea. People who are trying to make changes in their diet, but not ready to dive in head-first like Dan should pick one or two things to change first. For example, if you always snack in the evening, make a rule that you can only eat one healthy snack after dinner instead. If you drink to regular soda, switch to water or another sugar-free, calorie-free beverage. Small changes can make a difference over time.”

Trainer: Michael Horton – Westside Community YMCA

We asked Michael to update us on any new activity in the gym. He mentioned they’ve been working on new techniques like high-intensity interval training and supersetting. “We felt that by constantly varying the workouts, we could avoid hitting the brakes on the progress Dan had made,” he said.

“Dan told me about his recent trip to Las Vegas, and how even in that environment with all the temptations to slip on his diet and fitness, he kept at it the whole trip without letting it hinder his fun. I think that speaks volumes about the dedication and drive Dan has to keep setting and achieving new goals. Exercise always has a way of finding itself on the back burner. It can easily become the expendable part of our day or our lives. Some of the best advice I ever got regarding exercise was “never miss a workout.” This has been something I try to pass on as much as possible. The world moves so fast and it never stops. These are all hurdles, not barriers, keeping you from your workout and reaching your goals.”