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Williams resident gets new lease on life through exercise
Jeff Wright takes control of his health and fitness with help of Results Fitness staff

Jeff Wright (left) and his trainer Lucas Zabala relax before Wright’s daily workout that includes flipping tractor tires. Ryan Williams/WGCN

Jeff Wright (left) and his trainer Lucas Zabala relax before Wright’s daily workout that includes flipping tractor tires. Ryan Williams/WGCN

At 429 pounds, Williams resident Jeff Wright's doctors told him he needed to lose weight for his heart.

And he did. Through healthy eating and exercise, Wright has lost more than 100 pounds and hopes to lose more.

Wright had scheduled gastric bypass surgery, but Results Fitness owner Janine Rotter convinced him to postpone the surgery and come to her gym instead.

Wright started doing circuit training in personal training sessions with Lucas Zabala at Results Fitness.

"I kind of fought it at first, like 'really? You want me to do this?' And then I just stopped saying 'really.' I just started doing what he asked me to do and focus," Wright said. "If you want to lose weight and gain muscle, just show up. That's the battle right there by showing up to the gym every day."

In addition to working out, Rotter started coaching Wright on his eating habits and nutrition.

"You can spend all the time in the gym that you want. If you do not change your lifestyle, you're not going to change your health," Rotter said in an April 4 speech to the Williams Rotary Club.

Wright stopped drinking beer and eating processed foods. Instead he now drinks water and eats foods like baked chicken, cottage cheese and lots of fruits and vegetables.

So far, Wright has lost 107 pounds. His goal is to reach 280 pounds.

Wright's weight loss surprised his doctors, and he no longer needs the gastric bypass surgery.

"They kicked me out of their office and said if he had more patients like me he wouldn't have a job," he said.

Now he works out every day and credits the Results Fitness staff with his transformation.

"It's a habit now," he said. "It's something that if I can't work out I start getting mad because I need my fix."

Wright calls the Results Fitness staff his heroes, saying he would still be struggling with his weight if it weren't for them.

"I'm just into the healthy going forward in life," he said. "Life's too short and I want to be around to see my grandson, and I want to be able to play with him and stuff."


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