Tim Dunn, 36, first stumbled upon the Men's Health forums just as he was starting a new diet. Chronic back problems had flared up and, having gotten progressively worse over the last two years, were keeping him from participating in ways he had used to stay in shape -- like flag football and running. "I was always fairly active. I use exercise as way to take the edge off," says Dunn. "But when I quit because of my back, my levels went way down and it just snowballed from there."
Dunn initially thought that cutting back on exercise would help alleviate his back pain. What he didn't realize was that carrying all the extra weight only compounded his situation. "The pain led me to stop exercising when it should have been a signal to do the opposite." Before he knew it, he was up to 190 pounds and in need of a serious change. "Finally I told myself, 'the only way I'm going to beat this pain is to get rid of these extra pounds and make my core stronger.' That was always my goal."
He started with the Leaner By Labor Day program in July. Dunn attributes much of his success to the support and advice found on the MH forums – specifically the posts 'You Want To Lose Fat' and 'Clean Eating III'. Dunn has taken the Men's Health fitness programs, coupled with smart eating, and -- literally -- run with them. "I followed these rules word for word and lost exactly 2 pounds every week. Combined with my running [12 miles a week at an 8 minute/mile pace], I religiously dropped weight until I lost 25 pounds. I now weigh the same as what I was going into high school."
Since then Dunn has become a locker room leader in the forums, adding extra motivation with additional programs after Leaner By Labor Day ended. Threads like the New Year's Resolution ("we all know how writing down your goals helps keep the focus and accountability"), the Excuse Hall of Fame, and the latest Cardio Cupid Run til V-Day ("it feels good to start the year off with some good clean running") -- have been rallying cries for fitness. You can read all about the current regimen here, in which participants make weekly cardio goals with mile pledges. Group goals are posted and progress is tracked every week.
In addition, Dunn has started using the 5-week Transformation program as a way of staving off boredom in his workouts and for utilizing new muscle groups.
"I live in New England so the weather here is cold, icy and snowy -- but it's just a matter of being creative about getting a workout. Now is not the time to take two steps back."
Tim Dunn's workout: Transformation fitness workout 3 times per week. 4th workout for the week is full body involving free weights. Cardio is running 12 miles a week at 8-minute/mile pace (when weather permits). Jump rope can be substituted for running.