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.

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.