Jim Ehlert, 57
James Ehlert
57, Hamilton
Pounds dropped: 35
My turning point: My wife and I separated a year and a half ago – rather than dwell, I wanted to move on in a positive way. Around the same time, a good friend of mine was attempting to raise money for her brother who was in a coma in Poland. She got a sponsorship to run the distance from here to Poland and invited friends to help log the kilometres: 7,045 km in total. I had put on unwanted pounds over my 18 years of marriage; I wanted to get in better shape, get positive and help a friend.
My method: Running gave me shin splits, so I embarked on a regime of climbing up and down the Hamilton escarpment stairs (all 289 of them) 10 times, three to four times per week (including the winter months), as well as cycling or cross country skiing through our many forests in the city. I worked push-ups and sit-ups into my routine. I reduced the amount of fat in my diet by cutting down on cheese and fatty meats. Now at 150 lbs, I'm much trimmer – I haven't been this physically fit since I was in my twenties.
My kryptonite: Definitely my weakness is a plate of blueberry pancakes with maple syrup and browned breakfast sausages. So fatty but sooo good.
This interview has been condensed and edited by Amberly McAteer.
Tell us how you lost it: tgam.ca/weightloss