Inside Tuscaloosa Running this week shares the inspiring story of how running not only help Tim Eads loose a lot of weight, it saved his life!

It all started with a visit to the doctor who warned Tim, if you have any chance of living, you have to do something! He was to lose his left leg due to a fall, which gave him Venous stasis. There was a serious risk factor for forming blood clots. You see, at this time the scale tipped all the way over to 430 pounds for Tim.

The doctor warned him about only having about year to live at the rate he was going. If that isn't a wake-up, then I don't know what it. Tim knew, now was the time to make a change!

Leading up to that day, a typical meal would consist of 15 Krystal double cheeseburgers, 2 large fries, and 2 liter of Coke. Tim went cold turkey to change his eating habits, cutting out bread, pasta, rice, milk, sugar, and soft drinks.

Changing the eating habits wasn't enough for Tim, an exercise program had to be added. Back then, at 430 pounds, he couldn't walk much without getting winded. But, he kept at it, day after day. It went from walking to running some. Then, running more. Next thing you know, Tim is running his first 5K race. Keeping at it day after day, with some for of exercise to the point he has run the Tuscaloosa Half Marathon.

200 pounds dropped in a year and a half of time. That's a lot of weight. But as Tim says throughout about his experience, "I wanted to live." How about going from a size 64 waist to 34? That's what Tim now weighing 203 pounds has done!

It goes to prove, you can accomplish anything, you just have to start. Set realistic goals for yourself, use achievements to motivate yourself towards new goals. Take it one step at a time, one day at a time. You just have to make that commitment to yourself and stick with it!

You're invited to leave a comment below with a your own success story or maybe a suggestion on a future topic. We've created the series to be helpful with tips and information, and inspire with stories like the one from our friend Tim Eads.

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