Thomas Dominguez, 45, of Corpus Christi, Texas, didn’t watch his diet. He worked long hours so he valued quick, easy meals rather than the nutrients inside. A heart attack at 43 and a diabetes health scare prompted Thomas to make some life changes. Here’s what he did to lose 50 pounds and eventually fall in love with running.
WORKING 12-HOUR SHIFTS sitting in front of a control board at a refinery, I gradually gained weight over the years. My diet was to blame. I would grab quick and easy meals that were not always the healthiest. At my heaviest, I hit around 215 pounds.
My weight made me self-conscious. My clothes were large sizes, and I never tucked in a shirt. My lowest point came August of 2023 when I had a heart attack at the age of just 43.
The Health Scare That Made Me Confront Reality
I WOULD LATER find out that my heart attack wasn’t just from obesity but genetics. I had a genetic trait that affected my arteries. Thankfully, my condition was fixable. Still, at the same hospital visit I was diagnosed with prediabetes. This time, it was because of my weight.
While recovering in the hospital, I met a patient who was told that his legs would have to be amputated due to accelerated diabetes. He was already on oxygen and he looked miserable. I was scared because I was headed down the same path. It was a lightbulb moment for me. I swore to never get myself into a situation like that. I needed to make sure I’d be here for my family for as long as possible.
After getting discharged from the hospital, I started researching what would be the safest and most effective way to get myself healthy. Coincidentally, I got an e-mail that my employer was offering health services at Virta Health to all employees. I signed up, and it changed everything for me.
What I Did to Lose Weight
MY STARTING WEIGHT at the time of enrollment was around 210 pounds. After undergoing some lab work, Virta assigned me a health provider and coach. My coach taught me what I needed to know about nutrition and health. My plan was to stay under 30 grams of carbs and 14 ounces of total protein per day. A typical day’s menu for me would be eggs and sausage for breakfast, a beef patty with cheese and vegetables for lunch, and chicken or steak with broccoli for dinner. I’d sometimes have an Oikos yogurt for a snack, too.
To this day, I still message my coach with food questions or simply to get words of encouragement. She’s always there to give advice or a pep talk. Her support has made me stronger.
Within a few months, I was down to 160 pounds. My A1C had climbed to a 6.8 percent which I was told indicated diabetes. Anything below 5.7 percent is considered normal range. After only 3 months my A1C had significantly dropped to 4.9 and I dropped five pants sizes. It was a huge moment for me.
My energy was now through the roof– still is! My mind feels much clearer. I used to have brain fog and that’s gone. I also sleep better than ever. In terms of motivation, life is easier when you feel great!
I Started Working Out With My Son
ONCE I LOST that amount of weight, I started jogging and hitting the gym. I wanted to use my new energy! I started running one mile a day and worked up to 2.5 miles. I ran even after a 12-hour work shift. After a couple of more months I still had an abundance of energy and challenged myself to run a Spartan race. And then another.
I now work out six days a week. I can even keep up with my youngest son, who is in high school. He’s involved in football, track, swimming, and powerlifting. We share workouts and hit the gym together often, which is a new bonding experience for us.
Since I started on this health journey, I’ve signed up for two marathons. I’ve especially enjoyed running Spartan Races. I never thought I’d be able to do things like that! A race is such a fun, exciting experience. My goal for 2026 is to complete the race trifecta– completing a 5K, 10K, and 21K race in one year.
What I’ve Learned From My Health Journey
THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY I’ve learned from my weight loss transformation is that you have to change the way you think of food. Sugar and certain kinds of carbs are the catalyst for a number of diseases. They are in so many foods and that motivates me to change the way I eat. In turn, it changes the way I treat my body.
Another positive aspect about losing weight is that I’ve been able to share my experience with family and friends. Countless people asked me how I’ve done this. After sharing what I’ve learned, I’ve had many people come back to me and share that they’ve also lost weight and changed their lives.
Weight loss takes slow and consistent progress. It’s also not as strict as people think. I still indulge in the occasional dessert. It’s important to allow some room for small treats. As long as you get back to your healthy mindset, you’ll succeed.
Lisa is an internationally established health writer whose credits include Good Housekeeping, Prevention, Men’s Health, Oprah Daily, Woman’s Day, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, Glamour, The Washington Post, WebMD, Medscape, The Los Angeles Times, Parade, Health, Self, Family Circle and Seventeen. She is the author of eight best-selling books, including The Essentials of Theater.
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