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Ronnie

Dallas, GA - Garbage Truck Driver

Height: 6'2"

Start Weight: 446.6 lbs

End Weight: 264.8 lbs

“The knowledge I gained during this experience altered my life. I now understand that life is about choices and we all fail. The failure is not what makes us who we are, it’s the journey to recovery that makes us strong.”

Ronnie was the good-looking football hero with charisma, but after a college football injury, a failed marriage, and the responsibility of caring for his mom who was sick with breast cancer, Ronnie's life unraveled and he began to gain weight. Hilarious and fun, Ronnie is constantly making a joke out of his weight to hide the pain. Known as the "best coach in the county," in his community, he was forced to give it up because of his weight. In response to his mom asking him to get healthy, he joined a gym where he met his fiance Kara, a spinning instructor, who he went to high school with. They each have three kids and now live together as a big, happy family. Although Kara tries her best to get Ronnie to the gym, she has resigned herself to the fact she can't save him. Ronnie wants to marry her, but he continually pushes it off because he doesn't want to marry her at his size. In addition, he wants to lose weight so he can get back on the football field, particularly because his sons are playing now and he wants to be able to teach them all he knows.

Limitations:

• -Can't coach youth sports
• -Can’t find work other than as a truck driver
• -Can't pursue career in law enforcement

Health Problems:

• -Hiatal hernia
• -Lack of sleep from nightly nausea and vomiting
• -Sleep apnea

Stakes:

• -Wants to live and knows he risks his life if he continues to gain weight
• -Wants to marry Cara but won't take the step while he's this fat
• -Desperately wants to coach his boys in sports