Chris Denman

I finally have the level of fitness I need to tackle anything in my path.

1. Vitals: Chris Denman, 28, Bakersfield, CA
2. Occupation: Juvenile correctional officer
3. Height: 6'6"
4. Before: 310lbs.
5. After: 240lbs.
6. Time to Goal: 7 months

The Setback

When Fresno State recruited me after high school, I needed to put on weight—and I did. My coaches hounded me to max out on all my lifts and pack on the pounds. The idea was to add strength, and I bulked up about 20 pounds every year. By the time I entered the NFL, I'd gained 80 pounds. My joints started to ache; my back began to hurt-the weight was wearing me down.

The Wake-up Call

After three seasons in the NFL, I came home to California. For the first time in years, I had no one telling me how to eat or when to work out. I knew I wanted to slim down, but I didn't know how.

The Food

In college, we often hit all-you-can-eat buffets. Then on an NFL salary, I dined out every day, sometimes pounding large pizzas by myself. Once I was out of the league, I knew I couldn't sustain this diet, so I learned about healthy eating from my parents, who are physical education teachers. Now I eat sane portions of lean meat, healthy carbs, fruits, and vegetables. Occasionally I enjoy oatmeal pancakes dusted with protein powder and topped with Greek yogurt and fruit. Treats like chicken burritos stuffed with black beans and guac have replaced drive-thru meals, and they satisfy my cravings.

The Fitness

I already knew what to do when it came to lifting, but cardio was tough. I struggled to run a couple of times a week. Maybe it was the lineman in me, but I pushed through the pain, and it was worth the struggle. The more I ran, the more weight I lost and the less my knees and back hurt. Now I'm up to 6 miles a few times a week.

The Reward

Today I wake up without knee pain or backaches. I'd like an active career—whether it's firefighting, highway patrol, or coaching kids. I've already taken fire science and EMT classes, and I just finished applying for the fire academy. And after a lifetime spent playing and then recovering from football, I finally have the level of fitness I need to tackle anything in my path.

http://my.menshealth.com
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