Weight Loss All-Stars: Preston Thomas

Next in the line of inspiring stories coming out of CrossFit Dilworth - Preston Thomas outlines his story  that is typical of so many Americans, except for the fact he decided to do something about it.

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1 - What was your weight at your heaviest?

205lbs. I am only 5’9.5

2 - Describe yourself back then.

It was the end of my junior year of college when I started to put on weight and it just ballooned through senior year and right up until I graduated law school. I had terrible eating habits. I ate massive amounts of calorie-laden food.

My favorite was Japanese drowned in shrimp sauce with at least 4-5 glasses of sweet tea. That occurred on a regular basis.

I exercised sporadically and never did any cardio. In law school, I went to class, studied, and ate. No real activity ever during those 2.5 years.

3 - Where did you start when you first decided to lose weight?

It was right after I finished law school. No job, studying for the bar. At first, the only thing I did was cut my portions in half. I ate all the same foods I was eating before, just half…sometimes a little less. My health obsessed/mildly crazy girlfriend (now my wife) educated me on calories and portion sizes. Apparently I was eating enough for 3 grown men at each meal.

 

4 - What were the 1-2 biggest keys in transforming yourself from then to now?

1. Diet – I lost 35 pounds in about 3 months just by changing diet. This was before I started a regular exercise program. I wasn’t “fat” any more and was getting a ton of compliments but I still wasn’t where I wanted to be.

2. Exercise – When I first started a consistent exercise program, it was your basic cardio and strength routine. 30-60 minutes of cardio and 3-4 days of strength training.

  

5 - Approximately how long did it take for the weight to come off?

It took about 6-9 months to reach 155, my goal weight. That is what I weighed my senior year of high school.

 

6 - What is your current weight?

145 pounds

7 - What role did CrossFit play in helping you reach your current weight?

 

CrossFit didn’t necessarily help with weight loss, it helped with changing my body composition. I was  strong and in shape and looked fine, but CrossFit plus switching to a majority Paleo diet really decreased my body fat percentage.

Within 2 months of starting CrossFit, I had more changes in my body than 8 months doing my old routine.

8 - Any advice for people out there that think transforming their body is next to impossible?

Once you put your mind to it, it can be easy. Stay prayed up on it and commit yourself mentally to diet and exercise. It really is 100% mental. It isn’t immediate and it takes work. Know that and keep with it.
A strong support system is also really key.

Having supporting family and friends played a large role in my weight loss journey, plus the coaches and people at CrossFit Dilworth who make you WANT to be in the gym, getting better each day.