How Did He Lose It?
First, he bought a treadmill—his kids still laugh about how the house would shake when he ran on it! Like all big changes in life, it was about taking small steps. "I walked at first, but each day I would go farther or faster until I could run an hour on it."

But at 240 pounds he hit Plateauville. Dennis read about Men'sHealth Personal Trainer and joined. "The Personal Trainer was KEY to getting to where I wanted to be. I tried and tried at my own programs, but I did not see any significant changes until I used the MHPT workout and diet in tandem. MHPT allowed me to track and chart my progress and challenge myself. It is very difficult to cheat on a diet and exercise program if you have to check-in weekly."

Before MHPT, Dennis would start with healthy foods—chicken, for example—but not pay attention to how it was cooked or portion size. He wasn't sure exactly how many calories he was eating! Now with the shopping list, recipes and plan, he knows exactly how many calories he's getting.

Dennis says likes the accelerating levels of workout and the diet changes that keep things interesting. "I can easily change a menu item to something else if I don't like what is on it, and the program allows me to enter what I actually ate." Also, having the workout in printout form and taking it to the gym makes following his routine a snap.

In fact, pre-MHPT, his sessions at the gym were sporadic and lacked focus. "I honestly did not keep track of what I was doing, and I was not pushing myself. In some cases I would just do cardio because I was not getting anywhere with the weight training." Now for each workout, he's armed with a complete plan with the exercise and the weight to use.

Life Today: Wants to Go Shirtless!
Dennis says it best: "I feel great all the time, I do not get sick, I always have energy, and I do look good. I weigh less today than I did as a senior in high school. People find it hard to believe that I am 45 years old. My pants used to be hard to find at 40" by 34." Now they are hard to find at 32" by 34," though that's the kind of problem I like to have. I just wish I could find a job where I did not have to wear a shirt!"

How Does He Stay Motivated?
Dennis still uses the MHPT diet to maintain his weight and likes that the weekly check-in keeps him honest. Also, "I still get great workouts that I can change anytime I want. The major motivation is knowing where I was physically and mentally, and never wanting to look or feel that way again."

Weight Loss Wisdom
Dennis has it in spades: "I would just say that I know it is hard to start, and it is hard to maintain, but it can be done. There is no magic pill; there is no gadget. There is nothing but hard work, sweat, and sacrifice to get in great shape, but I would rather cut off an arm than go back to the way I was before. The only way to start is to start. Just challenge yourself in small increments, heavier, faster, or farther, and it all adds up in the end."