When Richard was 17 years old, he lost more than 100 pounds on a diet.

As a child he was bigger, and even though he enjoyed physical activity, he found himself limited by the extra pounds he couldn’t seem to keep off.

That 100 pounds soon came back, as would many more pounds before and later in a lifelong series of yo-yo diets. He tried many well-known diets and others less renowned, and initially he discovered he could lose the weight. But he always found himself hungry after the diet was done.

At one point he tipped the scales at 420 pounds. Still, he found the energy to lead a full life. A material handler at a nearby factory, he was an able worker. Married with three stepchildren and three step-grandchildren, he had an active and satisfying family life.

But as he got older, he found everyday tasks became harder. A tae kwon do enthusiast who earned his first-degree black belt at more than 300 pounds, Richard discovered martial arts didn’t bring him the comfort it used to.

“I needed something to get the weight off and keep it off,” he said.

Two years ago, he attended an informational session at the Weight Loss Institute of Columbus Regional Health. He was intrigued by the idea of bariatric surgery, though he quickly decided a complete bypass procedure wasn’t for him, instead opting for the gastric sleeve surgery.

He consulted with the Weight Loss Institute staff before and after surgery, learning how to read the signals his body was sending him about hunger. He avoided foods high in fat and sugar.

The pounds soon began to disappear. Today, at age 50, he is at 250 pounds and finds himself brimming with energy and enthusiasm. Though a few people who haven’t seen him since the weight loss pass by without even recognizing him, by and large his co-workers and loved ones have encouraged and nurtured him through the process.

“My family all stood behind me whatever I did, and they backed me up and were there for me,” he said.

Richard no longer needs to take the medications for high blood pressure and acid reflux that were a daily reminder of his battle with obesity. He’s back practicing martial arts on a regular basis and even teaching it to others at his local YMCA. At work, he’s jumping up to take on additional tasks his weight previously made challenging.

“It’s all about getting to know what your body is telling you and knowing when to stop eating,” he said.