Belly Off: Religion Weight Loss Success Story  

Vitals: Ryan Bauers, 29, Duluth, MN

Occupation: Pastor

Height: 6"1'

Time required to reach goal: 12 months

Weight before: 232

Weight after: 179

Lesson learned: Smart planning and research can speed you to your fitness goals.

Secret weapon: Eat more lean protein on hard workout days to fuel muscles and boost metabolism.

The Gain

Bauers founded his own young adult–focused church with a group of friends just 2 years out of college. "“It's like being the CEO of a small company," says Bauers, whose church now boasts 350 attendees. But while working as much as 70 hours a week attending to others' spiritual needs, he let his health slide. Monastic discipline gave way to cheesecake cravings, and soon he was busting out of his vestments.

The ChangeWhile celebrating the 2005 New Year with his wife and friends, Bauers declared his intent to get in the best shape of his life within a year. "When I told them I could be in Men's Health, they laughed at me," he says. Instead of blindly hitting the gym right away, Bauers hit the books. He spent 6 months researching his ideal path to weight loss in physiology texts, fitness magazines, and medical journals.The Lifestyle

Bauers cut his daily calorie intake down to 2,500 -- eating mostly high-protein foods spread over seven meals. On Saturdays, he carb-loaded with wheat pasta, brown rice, and his wife's homemade oatmeal cookies. "“It feeds my muscles and beefs my metabolism back up," he says. To burn fat, Bauers alternates jumping rope and punching a heavy bag for 30 minutes twice a week with walking and pumping iron three times a week.

The Reward

Proud of his born-again fitness, Bauers uses his new muscle to climb rock faces and paddle rivers. Dawn workouts give him energy to start the day and keep him rolling as he converts the masses: He's helping 12 overweight church members find their own paths to weight- loss salvation.

Ryan's Tips

Evaluate your diet. Halfway to your goal, take time to assess what's working and what isn't.

 

Lift heavy. Working your muscles hard helps you gain lean mass as you lose weight.

 

Know your body. If you're fixated on a specific sweet treat, that's just a craving you should ignore. But if you're plain hungry, it's time to refuel.

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