Low Carb Success Story Hank Garner by Amy Dungan

This month’s awe inspiring success story comes from a good friend of mine named Hank Garner. Hank describes himself as a man who is incredibly blessed. Happily married for 17 years to his wife Dawn, they have 5 wonderful children and enjoy small-town life in Southern Mississippi. A web designer, Hank loves spending time with his family, the outdoors and being active. His newest passion is running, which he does 4 or 5 days a week.

Been There, Done That

Hank was always the “husky kid”. His experience with all kind of dieting is extensive. He researched a lot and knew all the mechanics of weight loss, but says he lacked the motivation and dedication to really stick to it. “There were many times I’d drop 30 or 40 lbs just to turn around and gain 40 or 50 back.” Like many of us, he was an expert yo-yo dieter.
Ready, Set, Go!

Hanks decision to try low-carb stemmed from a feeling that his life was out of control. He decided it was time to make a change, which he admits he’d known was needed for quite a while. His education on the topic started a couple of years ago when he started to research weight loss and stumbled across Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb website. He started digging through articles, listening to podcasts, and asking questions. After reading about other people’s success with low-carb, he decided it’d likely be the best course for him. He realized it needed to be a lifestyle and not just another diet. But it wasn’t until October 15th of 2010 that he really started on this path.
Hank’s official start weight was 276 lbs, but he says he was even heavier a few months before that. He was on and off the diet before and had dropped 20 lbs. Embarrassed that he’d let himself get so out of shape, Hank began in earnest and it paid off big time. He’s lost an amazing 130 lbs and has added a good bit of muscle. What he’s most proud of is the physical transformation. His nearly 50 inch waist is now about 33 inches, and is now wearing a medium size shirt compared to his former 2XL shirts.
Another fabulous benefit for Hank is the improvements in his health. Before traversing the low-carb path, Mr. Garner was on several medications for high blood pressure, asthma and acid reflux. His doctor had also recommended cholesterol medication. “I was in bad shape. I would wake up in the middle of the night choking on acid in my throat. Every morning I would feel like I had been run over by a truck. My asthma was so bad that I couldn’t play with my kids for very long without being out of breath and just feeling awful.” Hank also had concerns about diabetes and heart disease, as he’s seen family members battle these diseases. “It really starts to hit home when people close to your age start having major health problems. I knew I had to get my life back. We all have a way of putting on blinders and thinking that you are really not as bad as you think you are.”
Hank not only added extra years to his life, but also gained control of his days. He says that just being there for his family is an amazing, fulfilling gift. He can now run and play with his kids or walk trails with his wife. He recently ran a half marathon with his son, which he describes as “a dream come true”. “We talk about losing so much, but the real measure is what we have gained” says Hank. So true my friend! So true!

Now… Not Then

Hank’s current plan is a little different from the method he used for weight loss, but the message is still the same – it’s essential to have a healthy relationship with food. He stayed on a very low-carb path for the better part of last year, realizing he needed to make a sure break from his addictions to sugar and processed foods. As he lost the weight and started running, he felt he needed to increase his carb intake somewhat to enhance his performance. Keeping his carbs around 20-30 per day, Hank slowly started adding in some fruit to slowly raise his daily allowance. Once he was comfortable with adding back the berries, he occasionally added a peach or nectarine as well. He also enjoys the irregular use of sweet potatoes or brown rice. “My philosophy is to earn your carbs. On days that I run, I will have more. On days that I am not running, or doing some prolonged exercise, my carb intake will be pretty low. The big key for me though is to focus on real food. The carbs I do get come from a tree or a root, and never from a box.”

I Can See Clearly Now

I asked Hank about the most valuable lesson he’s learned from living the low-carb lifestyle. His answer is spectacular. “I think the  biggest lesson is that I don’t have to depend on food for everything. Food is fuel. Food is also something to be enjoyed with friends and family. Food should not be used as emotional therapy.” If only we could all learn this lesson. Hank recalls turning to bad food when he was upset, happy, excited, depressed… you name an emotion, it could trigger eating. “When you remove those addictive substances and start working on your behaviors, you get an appreciation for living in the moment and not burying things with food.” says Hank.

Hank’s advice for those wishing to start a low-carb lifestyle, or those needing a boost, is to find their reason to get healthy. “Like I said, I knew all about weight loss, but didn’t have that determination to go through with it. One day I’d just had enough of myself. You have to come to the end of your rope, so to speak, to really want to make a complete change.” He recommends finding a reason to live to a healthy old age and a better quality of life, such as family. “Most people say they would die for their families. If you would die for them, why would you not want to get healthy so you could live for them?” Fantastic insight!

Recipe Corner

A favorite recipe of Hank’s is a frittata. Easy to cook and very versatile, fritattas are a great low-carb option.

Hank’s Frittatas

Hank starts with some sausage or bacon (or both) cooked in butter or coconut oil.

When done, he spoons some fresh salsa and cheese over the meat, then pours in 4 beaten eggs.

Cook that mixture on the stove top for about 5 minutes on medium heat, then finish in the oven under the broiler for a couple of minutes.

“It makes a great pie like dish that is amazing for leftovers the next day. The great thing about frittatas is that you can use whatever ingredients you have on hand. Broccoli and spinach work great, as well as all kinds of meat.”

Hank mentions that eggs are a staple in his house. “You can boil them, fry them, scramble them, make omelets, frittatas, or chop them up in a salad. I sound like Bubba from Forest Gump, but you should always have eggs on hand. Oh, and don’t forget bacon. Bacon goes with everything.” Ah, now you’re talking!

“Inspiration and genius – one and the same.” Victor Hugo

“There are so many people I look to for inspiration”, said Hank. He hears stories from facebook and twitter and subscribes to about 30 blogs, which he reads daily. He loves seeing stories about people taking control of their lives, especially friends “in real life” that have seen his transformation and have made similar changes. “I count it a distinct blessing to be able to share information and motivation with them. It’s a great motivator to then see the great things going on in their lives and that challenges and motivates me to keep pushing myself and be the best that I can be.” Hank credits his wife and kids as his biggest motivation in his life. “Waking up everyday and getting to be here for them, knowing that the years coming up are going to be the best we have ever had, keeps me fired up.” He doesn’t plan to miss a single moment.

Welcome To the Future 

For someone that hated to run, Hank has made some amazing progress in that area. It’s now become one of his favorite activities. “Running allows me to constantly challenge myself and all I need is a pair of shorts and I’m ready to go.” He’s already run a half marathon and sees himself running an ultra marathon next year. “As the guy that didn’t want to get off the couch last year, running down a trail for 50K is a reminder that I am indeed a different person.” I fully believe Hank will accomplish this, and so much more, in the coming year. 

Goofy Stuff 

Because I’m goofy that way, I asked Hank if he could describe himself as any one low-carb product, and what product would that be. I love his answer! “I would be a peanut butter Quest Bar. The reason is if you put them in the microwave for a few seconds they get hot and delicious. And when people try them they always put a smile on their face. I hope that when I meet people they leave with a smile on their face.” Oh they do Hank. I’m sure of it.>

To learn more about Hank and the fantastic journey he’s on, check out his blog at http://hanksjourney.com.

© 2011 by CarbSmart.com. Send Amy your comments to Amy Dungan.