Richard Dunn puts the brakes on lifelong weight battle

School kids find it easy to harass overweight classmates. But when you’re the heavy one, taking the teasing is much harder.

That’s what Richard Dunn faced as a child when his weight struggles began. He tried to shrug off the name-calling and humiliation, but it often made him sad.

Fast-forward 20 years. Richard was 30 years old, and a truck inspector for a trucking company in Strafford, Mo. But he'd never had anyone put the brakes on his eating.

A self-described carb addict, Richard ate a lot of pasta, potato chips, and bread. He also packed away spuds and steaks by the pound -- a true meat-and-potatoes man. And he'd wash it all down with a 2-liter bottle of soda and a half gallon of whole milk every day.

It was a heart attack waiting to happen -- and it nearly did. Richard began complaining about a sore foot and back pain, and visited his doctor. The diagnosis: plantar fasciitis, a bad back, and borderline high blood pressure.

At the time, Richard weighed a whopping 328 pounds. His doctor urged him to lose weight before it was too late.

Richard researched several weight loss plans, and ultimately joined L A Weight Loss at the Springfield, Mo., center because their portion-control philosophy made sense to him.

He worked closely with his personal counselor Amy and center manager Kendra to develop a healthy, balanced meal plan. Soon he was eating well-rounded meals with plenty of fruit, vegetables, and lean protein.

The changes made the difference: Richard surpassed his goal weight of 197, and has dropped to a slim 194 pounds!!

Now Richard's no longer the couch potato he was two years ago. He has lots of energy to clean and work around the house. And the best part: wowing his old classmates at his next high school reunion!!

Awesome job, Richard!

Here is Richard at 328 pounds:



And here he is at a fantastic 197 pounds! Keep on truckin’, Richard!



FAST FACTS

Name: Richard Dunn
Hometown: Strafford, Mo.
Age: 30
Height: 6'1"

Starting weight: 328 pounds
Goal weight: 197 pounds
Current weight: 194 pounds
Program start date: Sept. 20, 2005

Favorite food: Pasta and potato chips.

Biggest temptation: Carbs.

Biggest motivator: Getting support from his fiancee Lorie.

Biggest obstacle: Being offered food from other people.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming high-calorie foods and drinking a 2-liter bottle of soda every day.

New eating philosophy: Incorporating vegetables, lean chicken, and fruits.

Best thing about losing weight: Being more active, and feeling he’ll live much longer.

Best weight loss secret learned: It takes time to lose weight, but once it's gone, you can keep it off.