Weighing 370 pounds, Pauli Blamont realized there was a problem one afternoon when he was lying on his side and his two-year old daughter climbed on him and used his stomach as a slide. “This is not good”, he thought. He was only 32 years old, but felt like he was over the hill. Three years later and 120 pounds thinner, Pauli is a changed man.

His warm spirit radiates from his 6’5” frame as he talks about the day his life changed. It was April 2003. Pauli began working out at home, using a treadmill he bought with his tax returns, and doing push-ups and sit-ups. In the first year and a half he lost 30 pounds. At that point he thought he could just eat whatever he wanted as long as he worked out.

“That’s when I realized my first mistake: it can’t just be about working out, I had to change my eating habits.” In the following five months he lost an amazing 90 more pounds. His technique? “Eating to Live.” He cut out junk food and began to pay attention to what he was putting into his body. And in order to learn exactly what to put into his body, Pauli met with a nutritionist and took classes on healthy eating. “I felt like I was on a mission, and used my strong will to become healthy.”

People get inspired by his accomplishments, and that makes Pauli feel good because he really wants to see others enjoy the same success. When asked about what he did to lose the weight, he is more than happy to share his story. His philosophy is, “When you are losing weight naturally, you are benefiting from the consequences of your own actions.” He recognizes that it is not always possible to eat perfectly, but he encourages people to make simple, healthful changes in their diet.

For the five years that he weighed more than 300 pounds, Pauli could not play basketball or even take his kids to the park. But now he has joined the AAHC’s Wellness Within REACH Program and regularly works out at the University Park Community Center.

When he comes across people who are trying to lose weight, he finds that the greatest struggles tend to be with ourselves. “You have to be willing to make the commitment.”

What is Pauli’s motivation? He says his “fat pictures,” which sit on his desk at work as a reminder of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Now he maintains a healthy weight, and says that when he takes his kids to the park he is “running them out of energy, instead of the other way around.”

As part of his weight maintenance plan, Pauli completed the Portland Marathon in 2005. He says anybody can do it. “It’s about will and choices.”

I f you are interested in improving your health like Pauli, let the AAHC help you! Join one our fitness and nutrition classes. For more information, visit our website at www.aahc-portland.org or call us at 503-413-1850.

Featured January 2007 AAHC Newsletter