You know "that guy" at work who always has the bowl of chocolate candy on his desk? Well, a few years ago, that was me.

At the age of 40 I found myself to be an overweight, out of shape, one-pack-a-day smoker (for 18 years) who lacked the energy to do little more than flop on the couch. Years of horrible heating habits (such as careless eating and late night snacking) and an almost total lack of exercise had finally caught up to me.

That all changed one day when my wife Dreamchaser showed me a picture of myself at the lake with our two dogs, Tug and Isabella. I was appalled. I looked fat, bloated and just plain unhealthy. I kept asking myself, Is that really me? Do I really look like that? The sad but simple answer was "yes."

His new focus

I was ashamed of what I had let my once strong and athletic body become. It was then that I decided that I wanted to make a change in my life. I wanted to lose weight, look better, quit smoking and finally get healthy. Mostly, I wanted to lose for Dreamchaser, who is a 3-time survivor of cancer (currently in remission) and an incredible woman who inspires me every day of my life.

I needed a weight loss plan that was easy to follow (life is already complicated enough, isn't it?), affordable, satisfying, and most of all, proven effective. Nutrisystem seemed to fit the bill, so I ordered the men’s plan. After my food arrived, I soon found that Nutrisystem is easy to follow and understand, plus it’s extremely easy stick to, which allowed me to focus my attention and energy not on counting points or calories, but on the things that really matter— like my wife and family.

Originally my goal was to lose 30 lbs., but my results using Nutrisystem were so remarkable that I not only reached my goal but I eventually lost a total of 70 lbs.!* And as the weight started to come off I felt my energy levels increase, which resulted in my being able to start exercising again.

An energy source

As a result of my weight loss, I now have more energy than I could have ever imagined. I participate in all kinds of physical activities, most that I had neglected for years (or had stopped completely)—and some that I thought I would never try!

For example, I’ve incorporated a lot more movement as part of my everyday life. Last year alone, I ran over 1,000 miles—mostly 5 miles at a time around a gorgeous lake in Vermont—and I’ve run a marathon. In addition, I’ve biked nearly every road in my town, I rollerblade often, and I love swimming with our dogs. I also now play in a men's golf league, and recently participated in a benefit golf tournament to raise cancer research money, which was great.

And as far as trying new things, I learned to wakeboard on the Connecticut River—what a blast! I also went zip-lining for the first time. (That rocked!) I even had the energy to dig and install (by hand) four new gardens of flowers and vegetables on our property.

Losing and gaining

The combination of a nutritionally healthy and balanced Nutrisystem plan, combined with daily exercise, has allowed me to reclaim my health—and my life. I truly feel like I am in the very best shape of my life. I was once 200 pounds and felt awful; now I am fit and active at a comfortable 130 pounds* in my 5’ 7” frame. Also, losing the weight and becoming active again made it possible for me to quit smoking and stay smoke-free, instead of turning to food as a way of coping with stress (as many people do).

More important than just losing the weight, though, is what I gained from this experience—an understanding of proper nutrition: I learned how to eat smart, what portion control means, how to snack right, and how to live a healthy lifestyle. As a result, I have made good nutrition and daily exercise an integral part of my daily lifestyle. Just as important, I believe that to be at one's best in life, it is important to be healthy and physically fit, which is also a big part of emotional and spiritual well-being—and now I’m living it. I feel I’ve regained my self-confidence and added years back to my life—I’m the healthiest and happiest I have ever been!

In short, I am 'living' again thanks to Nutrisystem, and it feels wonderful! I would strongly encourage and recommend that anyone who wants to lose weight, feel better, and improve their health give Nutrisystem a try. Nutrisystem works, it's that simple!

—John

*Results not typical. On Nutrisystem, you can expect to lose at least 1-2 lbs. per week. Individuals are remunerated. Weight lost on a prior Nutrisystem® program.