POWERGRAMS

24 "As a meter reader, I stayed on the go," Jones said. "It was 90 miles an hour, and sometimes I had walking routes. But when I got this job, I had a great deal less exercise and I started gaining weight. It went to 350, then to 375. Then it got to the highest point." Along the way, Jones had two knee replacement surgeries. He stopped officiating at high school football and baseball games, which he had loved doing. "I had called baseball games for many years," he said. RALLYING FOR THE WEIGHT-LOSS BATTLE Aer fighting his growing girth for years, Jones began considering gastric sleeve surgery. He saw his primary care physician for advice and got a referral to Alabama Weight Loss Clinic. He was monitored by the clinic for seven months, aer which his results were forwarded to health insurance representatives. He was given the go-ahead for surgery. On June 21, 2017, Dr. Les Miles of Alabama Weight Loss Surgery performed Jones' procedure at St. Vincent's East Hospital in Birmingham. "They did a great job," Jones said. "Aer I woke up from surgery, I walked the hall that night." Jones felt so well and walked so much the next day, Miles said it was time for him to go home. On July 5 – less than three weeks aer surgery – Jones returned to work. A co-worker said, "I saw you come in the door and I could tell you've lost weight. Now I want to do the same thing." While recovering, Jones was on light duty for about six weeks, with a stipulation to not li more than 10 pounds. He gradually incorporated exercise into his routine. Jones said that losing weight is a great feeling. His shirt size is 2X, down from 4X, and he's lost 14 inches from his waist. "I can't tell you how many benefits there are with losing weight. At 65, I want to keep my girlish figure," Jones said, with a chuckle. He has more clothing options since he's lost weight. About nine months aer his surgery, Jones was working out of town and needed extra pants. He had always bought his clothing at big and tall stores, but he didn't have time to order and wait for pants to be shipped. "I went to Walmart, which isn't a big deal to most people," Jones said. "I remember calling my wife and saying 'I got jeans from Walmart!' I was so happy." Dropping the weight has made a world of difference to Jones, whose revived stamina and new zest for life is apparent. Exercise is a new staple of his life. Most evenings, Jones walks about 2 miles near his home in Aalla. On Saturday mornings, he's at the gym. "It's been a life-changing event," Jones said. "It's feeling beer that gets you being able to get out and walk. Now I enjoy it. "I have a lot more energy," said Jones, who maintains a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. "Aer work, I used to come home and sit in my lounge chair or go to bed. Now, I'll go play nine holes of golf in an hour and a half. I just love playing golf." Aer a 20-year absence, Jones began calling football games as his health and stamina improved. In a few months, Jones will have a procedure to remove the excess skin that remains from his weight loss. "I was told the surgery can take 15 to 25 pounds off your lower stomach," he said. "All of my doctors have agreed that I should do it. I will have the surgery in mid-April and be back at work the first of July." Jones said he'll never go back to his "former" self. "I keep my old blue jeans in my closet," he said. "The day I weighed 432 pounds, I took a picture of myself. I keep it on my computer and I won't get rid of it. The new, healthy me is here to stay." Jones holds pants he wore when he weighed 430 pounds.

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