The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Success story
Keith Druffner, 49. Weight lost: 300 pounds
Former weight: 540 pounds
Current weight: 240 pounds
Pounds lost: 300 pounds Height: 6 feet 1 inch Age: 49 years
How long he’s kept it off: He started in the fall of 2015 — he reached his current weight in January.
Personal life: “I have a son, David, 14. I’m an insurance adjuster,” said Druffner, who lives in Cumming.
Turning point: “One day, my doctor told me there was nothing he could do for me except manage my decline toward my death. Second, a family at my church suffered a terrible loss. A man in his early 40s and not nearly as overweight dropped dead of a heart attack one fall morning. His precious children, about 4 and 6, almost found their father’s body. At the funeral, his little boy cried out, ‘I want my daddy.’ A devastating moment for all who attended, but especially for me, as I knew I could be next. I did not want that to happen to my son. … My son, David … has been and continues to be my rock. In the beginning, I could barely walk. He would go with me from one park to another. … When I was hurting or didn’t want to continue, he was patient and encouraging. He would always say, ‘Yes, Papa, you are losing weight and I can really tell.’ He was the crucial factor in my success. … The side effect of the weight loss is a lot of extra skin. … I have developed a lot of muscle mass on my arms, chest and shoulders, but it’s not enough. I contacted a plastic surgeon and have been given an estimate of $13,000.” He has set up a GoFundMe account to fund surgery. “It can’t be a diet, it can’t be a fad,” he said. “… You have to embrace, essentially, a new way of living.”
Diet plan: “I eat tons and tons of protein and vegetables, moderate fruit,” Druffner said. “I stay away from carbs and fat.”
Exercise routine: “I go over to OneLife Fitness every day after work. … You walk through the door. (They) make you feel like you are family.” Druffner said he works on his arms, chest, legs and back “on a rotational basis.” “I normally run anywhere from 8 to 13 miles on a Sunday morning,” he said.
Biggest challenge: “Unquestionably, I have always been an emotional eater,” Druffner said. “When I am stressed, upset, I would want to eat. … It’s almost an addiction, overeating. I still struggle with it today. I think it is something you have to fight the rest of your life.”
How life has changed: “I went to Six Flags with my son and I’ve never been able to do that,” Druffner said. “… OneLife Fitness, they have helped me a lot. Your car has to drive to the gym automatically. Once your butt hits the sofa, it’s all over. You’ve got to put it into your routine. … People say, ‘I have kids.’ I get it, but you’re not going to do your kids any good if you are dead.”
Share Your Success: Each week, Success Stories focuses on an individual’s unique weight loss journey. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution does not endorse any specific weight loss program but includes names and links for the benefit of readers who want further information. Have you lost weight successfully with a healthy lifestyle change? If you would like to share your story with our readers, please include your email address, phone number, and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG), and contact us at: Success Stories, The Atlanta JournalConstitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or email Michelle C. Brooks, ajcsuccessstories@ gmail.com.