GOOD HEALTH 2022 | 9
Early on he quit drinking pop and eventually went on to watch calories . Taking the advice of an old friend who told him that weight loss wasn ’ t just about fitness but more about nutrition , White began using the MyFitnessPal app to keep track of calories . He said in the research he did , his friend ’ s advice proved true . Research he found proved to be true . And for White it has been the process of learning what he can and cannot eat . For example he doesn ’ t focus specifically on not eating carbohydrates but he said he just trains himself not to eat a lot of them . Working out six days a week both on the treadmill and lifting weights , White has lost between 85 and 90 pounds , a weight he is happy with maintaining . Along White ’ s weight loss journey , Commonwealth Attorney Ronnie Bowling encouraged White to begin Jiu Jitsu . In August White and his son started taking lessons . While Bowling attends classes in north Corbin , White started taking classes at a gym in Pine Knot Jiu Jitsu has been an unexpected perk for White and his son to do together . Recently White got his first belt , moving from white to yellow . From grappling to striking , it ’ s all been a learning experience . “ Three years ago I weighed over 325 pounds and I didn ’ t stand a good chance of walking up steps , much less going live for five minutes in a round ,” added White . One thing he didn ’ t realize was just how much of a difference it would make in his daily life , especially things like his energy levels . “ Things that were hard for me before , I don ’ t even think about now ,” he said . It ’ s been a substantial change in all aspects of his life . Good health , he said , has to become your habit and you have to be disciplined . White told himself he was going to make whatever change was necessary to improve — and he did just that . And it ’ s been something more than White ever thought he could achieve . White said when he quit smoking he knew he never ever wanted to go back to it and now he said he feels the same way about this part of his health journey . He never wants to be that unhealthy with his weight again . Living in a healthy mindset , White admits that his position in the county allows him to be somewhat of a role model not just for his family but also for community members . With that he would like to bring more activities to the county for individuals and families to participate in such as the mud run and obstacle race he participated in last year in Somerset . With healthy living a new lifestyle , the possibilities and longevity for both White and his community continue to improve .