Dropping pounds helped these men become happier, healthier heads of the house
By: Emily G. W. Chau
The consequences of being overweight affects more than just you—it impacts your whole family. (Search: What are the side effects of obesity?) But as these dads found out, the converse is also true. Read on to discover how six men were inspired by their kids to lose weight, eat right, and exercise more. Now nothing holds them back from being the fathers they were meant to be.
Cookies and carbs weighed Chris Williams down. As a child, he tried a couple of diets, and his weight creeped up to 250 pounds. After his wife got pregnant, however, he began to take stock of his weight.
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If his daughter’s birth inspired Chris to shape up his eating and exercise habits, then these days he’s motivating his family to maintain a healthy lifestyle. He follows a protein-rich diet, does cardio five days a week, and has only 7 percent body fat.
Find out how he did it!
Phillip Adlof had always wanted to be big like his father. Size meant strength, so the self-described “scrawny boy” intentionally bulked up. But after he busted his knee, Phillip’s muscle gave way to flab, and he packed on 360 pounds. (Related: 7 Causes of Weight Gain You Can't Control)
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Thanks to Weight Watchers and workout DVDs, Phillip shed 171 pounds. Not only did his body shape up, but he also became a better man to his wife and daughter. “I became a better father, a better husband, a better person,” he says. “I have learned that being healthy, and being around, is the best way to protect my family.”
Find out how he did it!
Edward Cooper had tried tons of eating plans—Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Optifast, Atkins, even the cabbage diet, to name a few—but could never stick to them. A victim of yo-yo dieting, he ate compulsively and packed on 260 pounds.
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Nearly 100 pounds lighter, Edward is prepping for his first half-marathon, a goal that he’s doing in honor of his father, who passed away at the age of 57. Edward wants to make sure that he’ll live past that age for his own kids, and knows that staying healthy is a key part of it.
Find out how he did it!
At age 28, Brent Keyes was saddled with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and constant stress. “I had terrible anxiety from not feeling good,” says Brent, then 281 pounds. Due to these health complications, he couldn’t keep up with his baby girl.
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Brent started following the Paleo diet, gave up alcohol, and picked up a cardio routine. A full 90 pounds lighter, Brent now has perfect cholesterol levels. Even better, he has newfound energy to bike and play with his daughter.
Find out how he did it!
The effects of Anthony Nieves’s late-night takeout binges and soda consumption showed. By the end of high school he weighed 300 pounds, and Anthony’s parents frequently voiced their concern about his size. After one such confrontation, Anthony realized that he needed to clean up his health for himself and his parents, as well as his only son.
To start, Anthony cleared out his cabinets and fridge, and restocked his kitchen with healthy foods. Within 8 months, he shed 100 pounds, and he’s continued to lose weight. Anthony’s greatest motivator? His son. “The best way to repay my son for the love that he gives me is to provide him with the love and support that I can now give thanks to my better health,” Anthony says.
Find out how he did it!
Bryan Kinnamon will never forget the look on his son’s face after he was kicked off a rollercoaster because the safety latch wouldn’t close. He had used his kids as an excuse to sit around and not leave the house, but knew he needed to change.
Small Changes, Big Weight Loss
Instead of sitting in front of the TV and binging, Bryan started counting his calories and hitting up the basketball court daily. The work paid off: He’s now 130 pounds lighter. Sticking to his diet is a challenge, but his kids keep him going.
Find out how he did it!
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