Even living in New York City and walking everywhere, Brister was largely inactive. And healthy eating was still out of reach. I could go days without eating a single vegetable, except French fries, if that even counts, he says. Constantly tired, unable to bend over to tie his shoes, and having to sit down after climbing a single flight of stairs, he felt defeated. Then a series of knee surgeries left him couch-ridden for five months. He gained another 50 pounds, bringing him to 330. He was 30 years old.

Hed nearly resigned himself to that life, but a few weeks later he met with a coach from the healthy weight and habits company, OPTAVIA . Brister decided hed try it for a month, even though, he says, he didn't actually believe anything would change. At the end of the month, he had dropped 32 poundsand that convinced him.

From no vegetables to a plate full

The program had him focusing on a healthier diet, which was a big change for Brister. He started eating six times a day: five were nutrient-dense and portion-controlled , and one was a meal of lean protein and three vegetable servings. He started drinking more water .

It was all part of a project to change his mindset around his health. At first, it was tough to resist his typical large, carb-heavy meals, but he soon found he liked learning new ways to cook, and discovering new vegetables to eat. He also liked working on hydration and sleep . As he changed his habits, he found he had more energy and mental clarity. He began moderate exercise, including pushups and planks or jogging.

In 12 months, he lost 145 pounds. I underwent a major physical, emotional and spiritual transformation, he says. I feel like a completely different person. He can hike and walk around without knee pain; hes able to lead songs at church without feeling winded. Hes even weaned himself off of caffeine. I still drink coffee because I love it, he says, but I rarely feel like I need it.

Dropping the weight gave him more confidence, Brister says. I have more energy, more mental clarity and I'm stronger in so many areas of my life. Hes become a coach himself, and shares his story to inspire others to keep striving. Hes just ten pounds from his goal weight; from there hes excited to work and tone his body. Losing weight has been amazing, but keeping that weight off long term will be the real win, he says.