DJ Argetsinger Lost 107 pounds: ‘I Wasn’t Happy and I Decided That I Needed to Change’

Weight-Loss Win is an original Yahoo series that shares the inspiring stories of people who have shed pounds healthfully.

DJ Argetsinger is 27 and currently weighs 190 pounds. In 2013, after realizing his weight was compromising his happiness and his future, he made the commitment to live a healthier life. This is the story of his weight-loss journey.

The turning point

I always had weight issues, even as a child. I was never one to look at labels or think about what I was putting into my body. I played football, baseball, and hockey, and I just assumed that if I was playing sports, I could eat whatever I wanted. Boy, was I wrong.

By my sophomore year of college, I decided that I wanted to start losing weight. I wanted to be healthier and to be more active in sports and life in general. I also wanted to have a family someday, and I knew that if I continued down this path of unhealthy living, it would lead to major problems. I looked in the mirror and I just began to hate myself and wonder what the heck I was looking at. I wasn’t happy and I decided that I needed to change.

The changes

I began by taking a look at what I was currently eating and making small changes. For example, I started choosing ground turkey over ground beef, fat-free cheese over regular cheese. It only takes small changes to make a big difference. I started taking pictures of myself to set a benchmark of what I looked like at the beginning, so that I could eventually see the changes from where I had started. That was one thing I did that really motivated me to continue on this path of healthy living.

I decreased my portion sizes, focusing on protein and vegetables for the bulk of my meals, and decreased carbohydrates. If I was hungry while I was out and about, my go-to snacks or drinks would either be Vitamin Water, protein shakes, or protein bars. Even on road trips, I found that gas stations had healthy options in a pinch.

I worked out about three or four times a week at first, and then increased to about five or six times a week once I saw results. Playing hockey during the winter was a great way to alleviate some of the winter weight that most of us Minnesotans put on when it’s too cold to go outside.

At the beginning, it wasn’t fun. It was tough. I felt tired and sore. What kept me motivated was seeing the progress photos over time. Another factor in keeping me motivated was buying new clothes and giving away old things that were too big. This is something that I think everyone should do when losing weight. Get rid of the clothes that are too big for you. They can become an anchor on your progress. It’s like carrying a backpack of bricks that weigh you down at all times. Don’t ever give yourself the option to turn back.

The after

Once I lost the weight, I felt so amazing physically and emotionally. I am still a self-conscious person but much less so than I was. When I was overweight, my thought was that people were looking at me because of my weight. Now I feel like I can go out in public and be proud and happy. Physically, I am able to do things that I couldn’t do before. Going on runs doesn’t seem like a chore that I dread. Sports are much more enjoyable because I am able to excel in areas I had never been able to. I have been able to get out of the prediabetic category, and all my vitals have improved.

The maintenance

I try to make the healthiest choice that I have in front of me. It’s easy to do this when you make a majority of your meals at home. Cooking puts you in the driver’s seat to a healthier life.

My wife, Megan, and I meal plan as much as we can. We sit down and make plans for one or two weeks ahead and then go to the store with a plan to prep those meals ahead of time. So when life gets crazy we don’t go and reach for something unhealthy. We eat a lot of chicken, turkey, swai or tilapia fillets, and shrimp. We also eat a lot of vegetables with our meals. We love to make fresh salads, and over the past two summers, we have grown our own garden with organic tomatoes, cilantro, cucumbers, basil, oregano, and peppers. This allows us to eat organic and know exactly what is in our food.

I usually exercise three or four times during the week. This may consist of running, weight lifting, or going on long walks with my wife and our dog, Drake. I also coach high school hockey for Redwood Falls High School, where I am the JV head coach and goalie coach for varsity. I am skating four or five days a week for an hour a day for practices — another way I stay active.

My daily habits are to drink lots of water, iced tea, green tea, or milk. Staying hydrated is key to keeping your body running at full capacity. Being active is another of my daily habits — whether it’s running, lifting, dog walks, or home maintenance, I am always trying to move more. My role at work has me walking around constantly, checking on the production of our department. Throughout the day, I might walk six or seven miles. I swear by my Fitbit Surge, and it has really motivated me to step my game up. Since last July when I purchased it, I have walked/run 1,486.11 miles or 2,816,584 steps, and now I have a benchmark to see how much more I can do this coming year.

Recently I took up running, and I completed my first half marathon this past June. The half marathon was a goal of mine for over a year. Crossing the finish line was the most gratifying thing that has happened to me in a long time. It felt like the culmination of my hard work. Now my goal is to run many more of them.

What inspires me is knowing that I put in the effort and got healthier. When I hear compliments from people who haven’t seen me in a while, it really motivates me to keep going. Hearing people ask, “How did you do it?” and looking for advice is very motivating to me.

When I started this journey, my goal was to lose weight and get in better shape. Now my goal is to keep the weight off and help as many people as I can to achieve a better, healthier life.

Advice

Just start doing it. I heard a quote that I use to motivate me when I am tired or rundown: “Ain’t nothing to it but to do it.” Start by taking a picture of yourself on day one (this will motivate you so much once you take the next progress photo). Go through your kitchen and see what is healthy and what is unhealthy and then start a workout program. You have to realize that the beginning is going to be tough and there will be some rough patches along the way, but it will get better.

(All photos courtesy of DJ Argetsinger.)

Need more inspiration? Read about our other weight-loss winners!

Weight-Loss Win is authored by Andie Mitchell, who underwent a transformative, 135-pound weight loss of her own.

Have a weight-loss success story to share? We want to hear it. Tell us at YStyleBeauty@yahoo.com.