Marathon man races toward new start

I've always wondered why someone would want to run a marathon. A lot of people I know don’t even drive 26 miles in a day.

Ben Shanahan can tell you why he runs marathons: to stay fit. But two years ago, he was far away from being able to leg out the distance.

With a diet that focused on candy and beer, he weighed 338 pounds. His blood pressure was high, and his doctor diagnosed him with borderline hypertension.

Ben was concerned about his and his family's future. He tried dieting, but couldn't figure out how to stick with a plan or limit his intake of his favorite calorie-laden foods.

Then he found L A Weight Loss in September 2005. At first, he was concerned about the number of women perceived to be on the program. But once he joined his local center in St. Cloud, Minn. and started working with his personal counselor, Ben was hooked.

He learned portion control and how to structure his eating plan so that he could still enjoy a beer every now and then. That was the winning combination that enabled him to drop nine pounds in the first week -- and 65 in six months.

Then, inspired by his wife's running of Grandma's Marathon in Minnesota, Ben started running too. He ran several 5Ks, and then a half marathon in April. In that race, he far exceeded his goal of 2 hours and 10 minutes with a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 25 seconds.

Ben's weight continued to drop, and now he's down to 216 pounds -- nine pounds less than his goal weight.

Hot stuff, Ben! Now he’s eyeing his first marathon on Sept. 9. Great job, Ben, and good luck in the race.

This is Ben in summer of 2005:



Now, here is Ben in tip-top running shape at 210 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Ben Shanahan
Hometown: Becker, Minn.
Age: 26
Height: 5'11"

Starting weight: 338 pounds
Goal weight: 225 pounds
Current Weight 216 pounds
Program start date: September 2005

Favorite food: Bread with peanut butter and honey.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivators: Lowering his blood pressure and running a marathon.

Biggest obstacle: Learning how to stick with a weight loss plan.

Old eating philosophy: Skipping breakfast, eating a big dinner, and washing it all down with beer.

New eating philosophy: Eating five small meals a day and exercising.

Best thing about losing weight: Having the energy to run 15 to 20 miles a week.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can eat anything and still lose weight. It's all about portion control and making smart choices.