Bo Clarke wants to regain control of his weight. Beginning in early August, Clarke started running every morning before work.

“My goal is to lose 50 pounds by the end of the year,” he said. “The long range goal is 100 pounds in 25 pound increments.”

He’s making progress.

“My weight has been up and down for years. Several years ago I lost 100 pounds, but slowly I gained it all back. That was a catalyst for this challenge for me,” he said.

That catalyst included being healthier for his family, too. The 35-year-old has been married for 11 years and has two small children. He’s also an instructional designer with Novant Health’s Dimensions training team. He works with the health system’s electronic health record.

Clarke gets up at 5 a.m. and runs three miles a day, five days a week. He’s thinking of running an additional three miles a day after work and incorporating some strength training, too.  

The other change includes diet. He’s using a food journal to track his intake. “It’s all about calories in, calories out,” Clarke said. “The journal helps keep me cognizant of what I am eating.”

He admits that it’s tough but said he feels better after working out.

Clarke had considered bariatric surgery, but decided this weight loss approach was a better fit for him. “I know I can do this through discipline. I’ve done it before,” he said.

Ten years ago, Clarke said he weighed almost 470 pounds. Through diet, exercise and perseverance, he dropped to 300 pounds.

Clarke doesn’t have any health concerns yet, but he worries that his weight might take its toll on his well-being in the long-term.

His advice for people who say they can’t fit exercise in their busy lifestyle? “You have to make the time to exercise. Make it a priority.”

Help support Clarke by following him on his fitness quest. We will be tracking him for the next several months.